News

17 November 2023

Ombudsman Diana Kovacheva sent a recommendation to the Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Hristo Hinkov, in which she insists on the allocation of targeted funds for a new building installation at UMBAL “Tsaritsa Joanna – ISUL” EAD, as well as additional funds for repairs of the Children's Clinical Oncology and Hematology Clinic.

 “I believe that you as Minister of Health will take the initiative to improve the conditions for children with serious diseases who are treated in the Clinic, which in practice will prove the responsibility and care of the state for child patients”, writes Prof. Kovacheva.  

The reason for this recommendation is the periodically received complaints at the institution of the Ombudsman from parents, doctors and civil organisations, who signal about the systematic lack of hot water in the children's oncohematology clinic at ISUL and insist on improving the conditions in the sanitary premises.

“I will only quote the words of a father whose child is undergoing treatment in the Clinic, who writes: “The conditions are inhuman, there are mosquitoes in the summer, there is no bathroom and toilet, the food is of poor quality, there is no orderly after 5.00 p.m. ...” In view of the complaints, I turned to the director of the Sofia Regional Health Inspectorate with a recommendation to conduct a thorough inspection of the above-mentioned citizen's statement and, if gaps and violations are found, to take appropriate measures to ensure the rights of children and their interests, as laid down in a number of international documents to which Bulgaria is a party. Although no breaches of the standards of medical care and the conditions were formally established, complaints continued to be received”, the Ombudsman notes.

Diana Kovacheva adds that at the beginning of November, she was referred again by the mother of a child, who, on her own behalf and on behalf of the other parents of children treated in this inpatient structure, raised the issue of the lack of hot water in the Clinic. She points out that, due to their age, the specific nature of the diseases and the treatment they receive, children and their parents need constant access to hot water, and the lack of it not only violates their rights as patients, but also poses a risk to their health. She notes that further information was received that the problem had been going on for about a year, with the water initially being turned on for a short period of time in the evening at 10 p.m., but for six months there has been no hot water around the clock.

“As a result of my quick reaction, the hot water issue was eliminated, but there is no guarantee that it will not reoccur. This proves that lasting and effective solutions are needed”, emphasizes Diana Kovacheva.

She draws attention to the fact that ISUL is one of the largest state-owned university hospitals in the country and children with the most serious diseases are treated there, undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy with the resulting side effects, and that for the purposes of their hygiene they need constant access to hot water.

 “In the course of the investigation I initiated, it was found that the water problem originated from the old installation of the hospital. The clinic is an end user and therefore it does not have hot water systemically. According to the information of the head of the Clinic, Prof. Konstantinov, several conversations were held with the management of ISUL, and the conclusion was that an overhaul of the hospital installation was required. Due to the lack of funds for capital expenditure, proposals were made to the Ministry of Health to allocate funds for repairs and to improve the living conditions in the Clinic, which was last repaired with donations from parents”, the Ombudsman further writes.

In addition, Prof. Kovacheva states that a detailed report on the needs of the Clinic has been sent both to the Ministry of Health and to the management of ISUL, but there is no response yet regarding the provision of a targeted subsidy and additional funds for capital expenditures.   

“In your capacity as Minister of Health, who is well aware of the problems of children with oncohematological diseases and who has made children's health a priority of your work, I find it unnecessary to point out the importance of children being treated in a favourable hospital environment, of being well taken care of and that their companions should also have access to hot water and normal conditions, considering their long period of stay there”, concludes the Ombudsman and recommends that funds be allocated for a new building installation for ISUL and for renovation of the Clinic.