MISCELLANEOUS MEDICAL INFORMATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A000300030005-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 22, 2003
• Sequence Number: 5
• Publication Date: February 17, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
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COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Miscellaneous Medical. Information
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PLACE ACQUIRED
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This Document contains information affecting the No-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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17 February 1953
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M+d,i.cal Educat1,oxl
The system of medical education in Bulgaria was reorganised in 1948. At this times,
the medi e,l face?,lties of the lzaiver?sitiel became medi.Cs1 11a a.demiesl' as part of the
g i r er,;,.kixsnt health service and lost their fonier independent academic status. There
are ; med . a;l a ;, demies in Bulgaria,., one in Sofia and one in Ploidiv. In 19119,
:.ppro n u.te:i`y LOGO ~tudetxts were ex rolled for the medical course.
The. c ova rse of study lasts sirs year,,;,,. The first four years of study are the same for
all students. During the last two years,, however, the students are directly under
th..e State health serri~~e and are required to specialize in either therapeutics,
surgery, or preventati?,, e xri .,:ii..?_ Ins. After qualifying in one field of medicine,
graduates must remain in that field and it is not possible to change from one branch
to another after gq ad:uation.
3. These mediel-al c-oases are also attended by students, already in. uniform., who intend
th
e -
to- become Amy ph si i,nee x..1919, there were 10 to 15 such students among
L.00 me ..cnal students at Sofia',. These Army students later attend special Army medi-
cal -
cal academies where they receive special, training. Even at the civilian academy,
particular attention is paid to the military students.
The Medical Academy in. Sofia uses the Aleksandrovska Hospital. Thig hospital has
2,000 beds and, is", 1950, added a special wing for nervous diseases.
Cli.n,.E s -m -d Medical Centers
,'. In 1950., there were 120 to 140 clinics, 80 of which had been established between
d
t
a
one
1945 and 1950, located in both new and old buildings. Patients registere
clinic are not permitted to change to another.
Since 1951, there has been a further reorgsnization, informant learned from
phaysiciana who have recently left Bulgaria. For every 50,000 inhabitants, a
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special medical unite called Sanitsredinitsa; has been created. A;.$anitaredinitsa
comprises a hospital and one or more clinics, and employs at least 50 physicians.
The clinics treat and study all forms of disease except malaria.
Every industrial enterprise has its medical centers called Sanitarnpunkt, which
controls the sanitary conditions at the factory and the nutrition of the workers.
The Sanitarnpu kt is attached tope clinic serving its'district, but for'treatment,
workers must go to the clinic responsible for their residence area.
Medical Eck
8. Operating tables, quartz lamps, syringes, and various electrical apparatus (ex-
elusive of X-ray apparatus) are imported from the Soviet Union. Microscopes and
other optical instruments are imported from Czechoslovakia.
There is a shortage of X-ray apparatus., although tubes have been supplied by
UNICEF (United Nations International Childrens' Emergency Fund)..'I September
1950.,-there were several boxes apparently containing more than 1,000 X-ray tubes
sent by UNICEF at the frontier customs house. Since there is plenty of milk
available,, it has been Bulgarian policy to ask UNICEF for medical equipment instead
of milk.
Blood Bank
10. In 19500 there was a blood bank in Sofia, directed by Timex (fnu). Donors received
.payment, special ration cards, and free passes to movies and other entertainment.
Drug Production and Importation
11 In 1950, there were two pharmaceutical factories in Bulgaria, as follows:
a. The Hygienic Institute (Rockefeller Foundation), which has been enlarged,and
in 1950, produced all the sera and vaccines required as well as crude peni-
:cillin in powder form for external use; and
b. The Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Industry (formerly the German-owned Sosap Factory
on Washington Street in Sofia which produces camphor calcium, various types
of" injeotions inal ud n'g-stx'Y'ohnine compounds'9 d"rugs, i:nc .uding 'cough syrups,
,
Hepabitm belladonna extracts, and extracts of other medical herbs; the factory
also packs' sulfamides which are imported from the Hungarian Chinoin works.
12. The following pharmaceutical 'products are imporbedt
From the Satriet ~ ,
as Unions Penicillin (yellow and of poor quality) ,0 Streptomycin
(of Ams ical'pdubti6h although it bears the_Soviet label) in spa11 quantities
only (in 1949-1950, one hospital?had a stock of only 80 grams, enough for five
or six patients), and sulfamides, including sulphadiazine and Vitamins A, Bj
Op and 'Dj
b. From Hungary-, Sulfamidesp and
a. From UNICEF-, Streptomycin (for hospital use; bears the UNICEF label).
13. Neither aureomycin nor cortisone has yet been used in Bulgaria since they are
apparently unavailable for import.
Tuberculosis Sanitoria
14* There are four tuberculosis sanitoria in Bulgaria, located as follows;
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a. Iskrets (N b2-59, E 23-14), with 2,000 beds;
b. Tryavna (N 42-52, E 25-30), with 400-500 beds;
c. Kriohim (N 142-03, E 24-26), with 400-500 beds; and
d. Byala, which also admits mentally retarded patients.
Anti.-Malaria Facilities
15. According to statistics published in 19148, the number of malaria cases has dropped
sharply since 1942.
16. The Ministry of Health maintains an Anti-Malaria-Institute., whcs a functions are
carried out by three large centers, one atVidin'one at Petrich, and one at
Burgas. The work includes the draining of swamps, a popular campaign for blood
tests, and actual treatment.
17. Mosquitoes in the swamps have been attacked with D.D.T. received from UNICEF and
with Pyrethrum-based chemicals produced in Bulgaria, including a type similar to
Flytox.
18. Quintha..is imported, probably from Holland, and sold by a State monopoly. Atabrine
is imported from Italy, and plasmochin is imported from Germany. There is a large
stock of these three drugs.
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