Hospitals in Bulgaria
Hospitals and clinics are in all major towns and cities of Bulgaria. Hospitals also offers rehabilitation for patients who require a hospital stay for long periods of time. The country has 30 specialist hospitals for those with specific diseases and cosmetic and surgical operations.
Hospitals in Bulgaria are adequate, but are underfunded. Some equipment and treatment isn't always available. There is also a low ratio of nurses to patients. Changing sheets and administering meals are not done by the nurses, but by the family of the patient.
In case of an emergency situation, the patient is admitted to the closest medical institute until the condition is under control and then they may be transferred to another hospital.
Emergency care for life-threatening conditions is free of charge in Bulgaria. All hospitals are obliged to treat any patient no matter their insurance, nationality, or pay.
Call 112 for any emergency in Bulgaria. English operators are available.
Top Hospitals in Sofia:
Pharmacies in Bulgaria
The Bulgarian word for “pharmacy” is apteka. Pharmacies in Bulgaria are different than some from the western part of the world. You are able to stock up on medications and receive certain medications without a prescription.
Medications are usually identical to the ones sold in places like the U.K., but at a much cheaper price. If medications cannot be duplicated, then the pharmacist finds a suitable substitution. It is usually not an issue to find medication for common ailments like diabetes, heart disease, allergies, and arthritis.
Before moving abroad to a foreign city, it is important to find out how to get specific medications, especially if you rely on them for an illness or condition. Also, it is a smart idea to have a copy of your medical records from your doctor back home and even get them translated.
There are several pharmacies throughout Sofia and can be commonly found in every district.
24-hour pharmacies in Sofia:
- Pharmacy Gerry
- Anteka
- Bojur Farma
- Aleksandar Mitkov
- Stilman to Pharmacies
Update 6/06/2018
Expatriate health insurance in Bulgaria
With so much to deal with before leaving your home country, (taxes, moving house, paperwork etc.) the careful planning of your expatriation to Sofia is an essential step. As far as healthcare is concerned, your local social security scheme won’t be accompanying you to your host country and, once abroad, you might be surprised by the care system you find in Bulgaria So, before leaving, make sure you have appropriate cover!
Cigna is one of the world's biggest international insurers with more than 30 years' experience in providing global health insurance across 200 countries and territories. They have access to more than 1.65 million hospitals, physicians, clinics and specialists worldwide.
Cigna Global's flexible plans are specifically designed for expats and globally mobile individuals who move to Bulgaria. All their plans can be tailored to your individual requirements in Bulgaria, always finding the right healthcare solution, whatever the situation and budget.
Getting a health insurance quote
Create your perfect plan with Cigna and combine the reassurance of comprehensive inpatient cover with the flexibility of optional extra benefits.
Click on the button to access the online tool and get a quote in 2 minutes.