MISCELLANEOUS MEDICAL INFORMATION

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 02921540
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: July 13, 2023
• Document Release Date: May 2, 2022
• Case Number: F-2020-00303
• Publication Date: February 17, 1953

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
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.
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SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
DATE CW INFO.
PLACE ACQUIRED
Bulgaria
Miscellaneous
September 1950
(b)(3)
1953
(b)(3)
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
REPORT NO.
Medical Information DATE DISTR. 17 February
NO. OF PAGES 3.
and as Indicated REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
SOURCE:
(b)(1)
(b)(3)
141,5tical Education
The system of medical education in Bulgaria was reorganized
the medical fac:,Iltiee of the universities became medice "a
gorernment health service and lost their forMer independent
are twc medial atAdemies in Bulgaria., one in Sofia and one
spproximately 79000 students were enrolled for the medical
in 1948. At this time,
ademies" as part of the
academic status. There
in Plovdiv. In 1949,
(purse.'
2. The rupu,se of study lasts six years. The first four years of study are the same for
all students. During the last two years, however, the students are directly under
the State health e'er/ice and are required to specialize in either therapeutics,
surgery, or preventative meiicine. 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 vaduation.
3. These medical courses are also attended by students, already in. uniform, who intend
to becOme-Army PhYsitdans. Ib.,19490 there Were 10-to-15 such students among the
400 medical students at-SOfia.. Theae-Armk-StUdents later -attend special Army medi�
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. Thin hospital has
2,000 beds and, in 19500 added a special wing for nervous diseases.'
Clinics ald Medical Centers
S. In 19500 there were 120 to 140 clinics, 80 of which had been established between
1945 and 1950, located in both new and old buildings. Patients registered at one
clinic are not permitted to change to another.
6. .Since 1951, there has been a further reorganization, informant learned from
physicians who have recently left Bulgaria. For every 50,000 inhabitants, a
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24 ARMY
NAVY
AIR
FBI
AEC
OSIEv
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Special Medical unit, Called SanitaredinitSai has been Created. ASanitaredinitsa
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.
7. Every industrial enterprise has its medical center, called Sanitarnpunkt, which
controls the sanitary conditions at the factory and the nutrition of the workers.
The Sanitarnpunkt is attached to the clinic Serving itS-diStrict, but for'-treatment,
workers must go to the clinic responsible for their residence area.
Medical Equipment
8. Operating tables, quartz lamps, syringes, and various electrical apparatus (ex-
clusive 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 Children& Emergency Fund).. September
19O, .there were several bOxea apParently COntaining more than 1,000 X-ray tubes
sent by UNICEF at the frontier oustoMs 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 1950i there was a blood bank in Sofia, direoted by Time* (fnu). Donors received
payment, special ration cards, and free passes to movies and other entertainment.
Drug Production and importation3
11. 14 1950, there were two pharmaceutical factories in Bulgaria, as follows:
a. The Hygienic Institute (Rockefeller Foundation), which has been enlarged,and
.in 19500 prodUoild All the sera and vadOinee required as well as crude peni-
cillin in powder form for external use; and
b. The Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Industry (formerly the German-Owned Soup Factory
=Washington Street in Sofia),, which produces camphor calcium, various types
ofinjeCtiOne inaUdink:StrYChnine-OOMpOUhdi, drUge,-inciUding cOUgh syrups,
Hepabit, belladOnna extradts, and eXtreets of Other MediCal herbs; the factory
also packs'sulfamides which are imported from the Hungarian Chinoin works.
12. The following pharmaceutical' products are impoxteds
a. From the Soviet Uniont Penicillin (yellow and of poor quality), Streptomycin
(of Americal'prodOtion although it bears the Soviet label) in small quantities
on1y (in 1949-1950� one hospitalchad a stook of on1y BO grams, enough for five
or six pitientm), and sulfamides, including sulphadiazine and Vitamins A,
0, and 14
b. From Hungary: Sulfamides; and
c. From UNICEF s 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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Tskrets (N 42-59$ E 23-1)4), with 2,000 beds;
b. Tryavna (N 42-52$ E 25-30), with 400-500 beds;
c. Krichim 42-03$ E 24-26), with 400-500 beds; and
d. Wale, which also admits mentally retarded patients.
Anti-Malaria Facilities
15. According to statistics published in 1948, the number of malaria cases has dropped
sharply since 1942.
16. The Ministry of Health maintaina an Anti-Malaria-Institute, whose functions are
carried out by three large centers, one at Vidin,'one at Petrich$ and one at
BUrgita. The work includes the draining of sWamps$ a popular campaign for blood
teats, and actual treatment.
174 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. Quinineis imported, probably from Holland, and sold by a State monopoly. Atabrine
is imported from Italk$ and plasmochin is imported from Germany. There is a large
stock of these three drugs.
1.
2.
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