Closure of the Children's Ward at St. Anna Hospital: What's Happening?

05.02.2026 | Region

The children's ward at St. Anna Multiprofile Hospital in Varna is facing closure. Director Dr. Petrov comments on the reasons, while Mayor Kotsev is demanding urgent action. A hospital audit is underway.

Снимка от דוברות מרכז שניידר לרפואת ילדים בישראל, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Executive Director of the Multiprofile Hospital "St. Anna" in Varna, Dr. Krasimir Petrov, commented for the first time on the closure of the children's ward. He stated that he will do everything possible to restore its activity, emphasizing the systematic underfunding of clinical pathways as the main problem.

As reasons for their resignation, the pediatric surgeons point to the lack of opportunities for development and specialization. Dr. Petrov disputes this, stating that the conditions that Dr. Rumen Hristov had requested were provided. It is emphasized that the problem is not in the money.

Dr. Valentin Vlasakov, Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasizes that emergency interventions have not been refused. The hospital takes on most of the emergency surgery cases, but does not receive adequate payment from the state, which leads to an outflow of staff.

The mayor of Varna, Blagomir Kotsev, insists on urgent actions and seeks assistance from the state, which is the majority owner of the hospital. An audit of the medical facility is currently underway.

The pediatric surgery department will cease its activity at the end of the month, and operations will be redirected to the University Hospital "St. Marina".