site.btaMinister Asena Serbezova Participated in Informal EPSO Meeting on Healthcare

Health Minister Asena Serbezova participated in an extraordinary informal video conference of the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO), part Healthcare, said the Ministry of Health on Tuesday. The only item on the Council's agenda was the EU's coordinated and solidarity response to the health consequences of the war in Ukraine.

During the meeting, EU member states shared their views on the best approach to humanitarian support and protection of the capacity of countries' healthcare systems in connection with the situation in Ukraine.

''Bulgaria already provides medicines, bandages, sanitary materials for Ukraine. We work closely with drug manufacturers and wholesalers, as well as with the Ukrainian and Bulgarian Red Cross. [...] We have a clear national regulation, and the established coordination within the government guarantees its implementation,'' Serbezova pointed out in her speech.

Serbezova stressed that in order to provide adequate medical care to all people arriving from Ukraine, the EU Civil Protection Mechanism remains the main channel for responding to requests for assistance.

''We are emerging from a COVID crisis that has exhausted our health systems and health budgets. At present, the support of the EU, including financial, is extremely important for the member states,'' Serbezova added.