The Bulgarian Aviation Industry Association (BAIA) will work closely with the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC) for the successful implementation of the project for the establishment of a State Aviation Operator for medical and specialised operations.
Bulgaria is the only member state of the European Union that so far does not have aircraft to perform medical and specialised operations, the Transport Ministry said after a regular meeting held on 2 February. Currently, the country does not have a national system in place with a coordination centre for emergency medical assistance by air. In recent years, our country has lost many lives in a number of accidents.
In the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, commitments have been made to finance the purchase of aircraft – 5 helicopters for medical purposes and the construction of an “Emergency Air Ambulance” system.
Experts from the Ministry of Transport and Communications, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Interior will prepare a draft law amending and supplementing the Civil Aviation Act, which will regulate the main issues, namely the establishment, structure, functions, financing and organisation of the new operator.
The activity of providing emergency medical assistance by air is a transport service carried out by an aircraft – helicopter and the provisions of Regulation (EU) 965/2012 and the Civil Aviation Act are applicable to it.
Currently, the HEMS project is led by Minister Nikolai Sabev, the Deputy Chairman of the Transport Committee Georgi Gvozdeikov, Kalin Stefanov – Advisor to the Minister for Aviation Affairs, Georgi Klisurski – representative of the Ministry of Finance and Todor Ivandjikov – President of BAIA. After the promulgation of the Law on Amendment and Supplementation of the Law on Civil Aviation, a team of specialists will be formed, who will be responsible for the establishment of the State Operator for the HEMS system and a tender will be launched for the selection of the most suitable type of helicopters. In this regard, Georgi Gvozdeykov – MP of PP “We Continue the Change” in the 47th National Assembly, whose company Extreme Technology is a member of BAIA, said:
“As Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Transport and Communications in the 47th National Assembly, I am extremely proud and honoured to be in the team led by Minister Nikolay Sabev, who has the difficult task to implement a very important project for Bulgaria – the construction of a system for providing emergency medical assistance by air (Helicopter emergency medical services, HEMS). My efforts and aspirations as a Member of Parliament from 21 MIR Sliven will be directed to the possibility of one of the operational bases, as well as the centre for training and preparation of personnel to be built in Sliven. I am of the opinion that the establishment of an operational base and a national training and preparation centre, as well as a technical service base in Sliven, is a feasible project, given the infrastructural and medical educational provision in the district. The project will provide for the town of. The project will create new jobs for Sliven and the region, significantly improve the investment climate, create access to high quality medical services and ensure stable employment and training prospects for young people in the region, which is an important step towards restoring economic potential and opportunities in the area.”