Infant mortality rate has been declining, but is still 2-3% above the EU average, Minister of Health Prof. Hristo Hinkov said at the National Congress of the Bulgarian Medical Association, quoted by BTA. Bulgaria remains in first place in terms of mortality in Europe.

According to the minister, there are more hospitals in Bulgaria than necessary. “Sooner or later it will be necessary to make a decision on the privatization of some public hospitals, as well as on the restructuring of public hospitals, including municipal ones,” Minister Hinkov said. He added that this is a political decision that needs to be voted on in parliament.