The transfusion hematology unit at St. Anna University Hospital in Sofia will be inspected on the order of health minister Katya Ivkova, the health ministry says. The move follows a report on social media that the unit was turning away blood donors because it did not have food packages for them.
The Bulgarian Drug Agency will carry out the inspection. Its inspectors must find out what happened, how the hospital takes in donors, and how it provides them with food.
Inspectors will also look into claims that staff at the unit have been buying food and drinks with their own money to keep the donations going.
Money for the snacks comes from the National Center of Transfusion Hematology, which pays the hospital 10.23 euros a month for each blood donor. Of that, 4.09 euros is meant for a light meal to help donors recover. The unit is part of St. Anna hospital, not the national center, so the hospital is responsible for both the food and how the unit is run.
The health ministry says it will announce what the inspection finds. If it turns up any breaches, further steps will follow.