EUFOREA, the alliance for research in pre-hospital emergency and intensive care medicine, is holding a meeting in Bulgaria for the first time. Health minister Katya Ivkova opened the 28th meeting, the Ministry of Health said.

Specialists from several European countries are taking part. The programme covers new developments in pre-hospital emergency care, artificial intelligence in medical research and better delivery of life-saving procedures, meaning the steps medics take to save a life. Bulgaria is also presenting how it is building a national air ambulance system.

Ivkova called emergency care one of the main priorities of the health system. She said better quality and timely life-saving care need steady, continued effort.

"A strong and lasting system needs not only modern equipment and infrastructure, but also highly trained specialists," the minister said. She said good, accessible emergency care needs investment in medics, in research and in work with partners from other countries.

Ivkova said the growth of air medical care is a step forward. International partnership, she said, is key to a system in which new equipment and the experience of medics work together.

The minister said lasting progress in emergency care depends on advances in science, good training for medics and health systems being ready to use modern solutions for the benefit of patients.

The Health Ministry believes hosting the meeting allows closer cooperation with Europe, exchanges between specialists and new ways to improve emergency care and get it to patients on time.

"The scientific focus of this year's meeting is especially valuable," Ivkova said. She said that when European specialists share what they know, it opens the way to joint research projects, new solutions and good practice, and care becomes better and safer.