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The new computerised tomography (CT) scanner at UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna was opened with a solemn blessing for health and welfare served by His Eminence Yoan, the Metropolitan of Varna and Veliki Preslav. The ribbon was cut by the Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Kostadin Angelov, the Rector of MU – Varna Prof. Dr. Valentin Ignatov and the Executive Director of UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna Prof. Dr. Silva Andonova. The event was also attended by Prof. Dr. Krasimir Ivanov, Chairman of the General Assembly of MU – Varna and the District Governor of Varna Mr. Stoyan Pasev. Minister Angelov also had meetings with the heads of clinics of UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna. Then the Rector Prof. Dr. Valentin Ignatov welcomed the Minister of Health at MU – Varna, where he held a working meeting with the academic management, and later on he met students from different majors.
Earlier at the opening of the extremely modern CT scanner, Prof. Dr. Silva Andonova said, "With the opening of this scanner, we once again prove and continue the mission of UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna to be a state-of-the-art hospital for the benefit of our patients not only from the Northeast but also from all over the country. The new computerised tomography scanner provides unique opportunities for high-tech scanographic imaging and selective angiography, a method that helps both in emergency medicine and in the diagnosis of a wide range of diseases. Using this new and unique to our country equipment, we will be able to train our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students. The equipment is unique since it is the first scanner with two X-ray tubes, which allows for very rapid scanographic diagnostics as well as for real-time function examination. This equipment is beneficial both for patients and doctors because in this way doctors feel confident that they are working with the highest quality equipment and can be in favour of all patients who cross the threshold of the hospital."
The new CT scanner with two X-ray sources is manufactured by SIEMENS Healthcare GmbH (Germany). The apparatus has excellent imaging qualities with high spatial and contrasting soft tissue resolution. It has a wide opening for the patient and operates with a high maximum rotation speed. Other advantages of the equipment are the ability to function at lower doses and the potential to reduce the contrast agent, reduction of the radiation dose while preserving the image quality, extremely fast scanning – it scans the chest and abdomen for a second, the possibility for 4D imaging and perfusion of whole organs - brain, heart, liver, personalised scan of each patient depending on age, weight and clinical indications. The scanner also allows for performing dual-energy testing for detecting bone marrow oedema, obtaining a virtual non-contrast image after contrast subtraction, determining the chemical composition of concrements and displaying urate tophi in gout.
Prof. Kostadin Angelov congratulated the team of specialists who will work with the new equipment and wished them success, "Whenever I come to UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna, I feel at ease, because this is one of the few hospitals in the country where patients obtain the comprehensive care they need, thanks to the management of the medical institution and MU-Varna. Here, practice and science have been skillfully intertwined to give the best to the Bulgarian patients. I would like to express my gratitude to all physicians working at the hospital. The new scanner will give them complete comfort and confidence at work. The equipment is unique to the country. It allows to perform everything in the field of diagnostic imaging. The new technology is an exceptional advantage and benefit for the patients of the hospital", said Prof. Angelov.
At the meeting with the heads of the clinics at UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna Minister Angelov said, "I would like to thank everyone for the efforts you have made during the COVID–19 crisis. More than 3 300 human lives have been saved at the medical institution. I know that this selfless work has a high personal cost. Thank you for giving the best of you throughout the crisis. Furthermore, there is another unique to our country phenomenon going on at UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna – this is the only hospital in Bulgaria which provides comprehensive treatment of all diseases. This is all your merit, and once again I would like to thank everyone of you for your efforts and teamwork. This is the model that has to be implemented in almost all major hospitals in the country. I suppose you have heard of an idea of mine – construction of 10-12 hospitals in the country that provide the entire scope of medical services that have to be provided in a modern hospital. I can confidently say that UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna is the model that these 10 or 12 hospitals in the country should be equal to. That can happen neither in a day, nor in a year. This can happen after plenty of years with a clearly defined mission and policy. At UMHAT "St. Marina" – Varna there is another model, which I am sure will be multiplied in the country, and this is the fruitful interaction between the Medical University and the medical institution. This is evident in many directions, not only in finding appropriate doctors to specialise and continue to develop the clinics, but also in achieving very good medical and research outcomes."
In front of the management and the students at MU-Varna the Minister expressed his admiration for the state-of-the-art technical facilities, high technologies and excellent organisation of the training process in electronic environment. "Medical University – Varna is one of the leading universities in the Bulgarian ranking system and a leader in the medical education in the country. What really makes a huge impression is the fact you were ready for the emergency situation as you had created the e-learning environment in both preclinical sciences and clinical training. It is noticeable that everything at the University is digitised, and I can say that you are ahead of your time," said Prof. Angelov. A wide scope of topics was discussed at the meeting with the academic management, including the state priorities related to student training in medical and health majors, specialisations and doctoral programmes. The Minister emphasized on the exceptional importance of the major "Health Care" due to the significant shortage of staff in Bulgaria. The students had the opportunity to address their questions to Minister Angelov.
