The Ministry of Health launches an electronic portal for medical residents and prepares changes to training

The Ministry of Health introduced a new electronic portal for medical residents, centralizing information on vacancies, application requirements, and training opportunities in one place. This took place during a press conference featuring Minister Mikhail Okoliyski, Deputy Minister Petar Gribnev, representatives of the “Future in Bulgaria” Initiative Committee, and Information Services, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new platform is the first step toward building a centralized electronic system that will track the entire residency process in the future. It allows for vacancy searches by region, healthcare facility, specialty, and professional qualification, significantly facilitating the process for young doctors.

According to Minister Okoliyski, information regarding vacancies has been fragmented and difficult to access until now, and the new portal aims to bring transparency and clarity to the process. A future stage will include the possibility of a fully electronic application process.

Alongside the presentation of the platform, the Ministry of Health announced a draft for amendments to Ordinance No. 1 of 2015 regarding medical residencies. According to Dr. Gribnev, the proposals were developed following a dialogue with young doctors and aim to address real issues within the system.

Key changes include the introduction of a clearer organizational structure by designating a contact person at each training facility, as well as the mandatory centralized publication of all vacancies.

The “Future in Bulgaria” Initiative Committee described the creation of the portal as a significant step forward. According to Dr. Kalina Bozhilova, this is the result of efforts that began a year ago, while Vasilena Dimitrova called on the next administration to ensure continuity and the actual implementation of the changes.

The platform was developed by Information Services and is integrated with the National Health Information System, allowing for the use of existing registries and functionalities.

The introduction of the portal and the proposed regulatory amendments aim to create a better-organized, transparent, and accessible residency system tailored to the needs of young doctors in the country.