The new regional blood transfusion centre in Burgas is due to open on 5 or 6 April 2027, Dr Lyudmila Zhelyazkova, head of the Burgas Blood Centre, told Bulgarian National Radio. The opening date has slipped several times because of a lack of money.
This story follows our earlier report on the extra money the government gave the centre.
The cabinet approved nearly €4m for medical equipment and other fittings to finish equipping the centre. "We have already signed contracts for almost 100% of the remaining medical equipment," Zhelyazkova said. She said the money under these contracts will be paid straight away.
Work on the building is finished, and the contractor has been paid. Only the equipment is left.
The centre could open earlier. "In fact, we will try to start before that date," Zhelyazkova added.
The centre will have 58 staff in all. For now it has only its 9 administrative staff. The medical staff will move over from the transfusion haematology department where they work now.
Zhelyazkova said the centre is being set up because the need for blood keeps growing. There are more and more patients, new hospitals are opening, and existing ones are adding new wards. Blood is needed for planned and emergency operations, which never stop, so the Burgas Blood Centre looks for donors every day. She said their number rises each year.