Backlash Erupts Over National Children’s Hospital Project in Bulgaria

The recent decision by the Bulgarian government to support a private project for a children’s hospital has sparked significant backlash, particularly from advocates of a state-run facility in Sofia. Maria Sharkova, a medical law attorney and member of the ‘Public Council to Build a National Children’s Hospital,’ revealed that she received a call from a SANS agent following a complaint from the Trade League, a major drug distribution company. Established in 2023 by the former Minister of Health, Hristo Hinkov, the Public Council aims to ensure transparency in the hospital's development process. The controversy intensified when the government, facing public and political pressure, rescinded its permit for the private project just a day after its issuance. Critics, including the Public Council, argue that the private initiative undermines a state project that has been in the works for over a decade. Sharkova expressed confusion over how their advocacy could be perceived as a threat to national security, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive healthcare facility for children, which Bulgaria currently lacks. Health activists have long urged the government to prioritize the establishment of a national children’s hospital, asserting that the Trade League's project would divert essential resources and personnel away from the state initiative. In response to the escalating tensions, the Supreme Bar Council condemned the pressure placed on lawyers like Sharkova, affirming their right to voice opinions on critical societal issues, including healthcare and justice.