Nestled along the scenic Black Sea coast, Burgas is known for its vibrant cultural scene and rich history. It is also one of the fastest-growing cities in Bulgaria. And when it comes to the health of the next generation, the people of Burgas are ready to invest.

“For the last 30 years, not a single hospital has been built with public resources in Bulgaria, not even in our capital,” says Dimitar Nikolov, the mayor of Burgas. “We had to do something to change this. Our citizens spoke and we listened.”

For people living in Burgas and the many tourists visiting each year, the lack of good children’s healthcare is a major problem. A paediatric hospital became a priority for the city.

“The municipality’s team didn’t have the expertise to handle such a complex project,” Nikolov says. “We had to understand the need for paediatric services in the overall region, determine what services were needed, and plan the building and equipment.”

An international team of EIB advisors and expert consultants provided Burgas with a comprehensive feasibility study that included functional planning and preliminary designs for the hospital. This helped the municipality meet international best practices, prepare tender documents for the design and construction, and plan the purchase of medical equipment. Experts provided by EIB Advisory supported the project’s procurement and developed a digital twin of the hospital. They also helped the municipal staff to establish a network of international peers who will improve the construction and help test new ideas for the future. In September 2023, the EIB signed a €12.8 million loan with Burgas to co-fund the hospital.

“The EIB’s service package exceeded all our expectations.” says Nikolov. “EIB Advisory supported us all along the way — from identifying the consulting needs, to selecting a team of consultants, and throughout the entire process of structuring the project. The EIB loan then gave us the tools to put all our planning into action.”

The professionalism of the EIB team that assisted us is invaluable. Without their support, this complicated project would not have gotten off the ground.

Dimitar Nikolov

Mayor of Burgas

The new hospital, expected to open by the fall of 2025, will offer state-of-the-art healthcare, allowing parents to accompany their children through every stage of admission, and creating a welcoming environment with better medical care. The hospital will serve a region of southeast Bulgaria that is home to more than 150 000 children, and will provide specialised services in 19 major areas, including cardiology, pulmonology, endocrinology and surgery.

The eight-story building will have three operating theatres and 123 beds, plus a further ten beds in its paediatric intensive care unit. The hospital is expected to employ over 500 staff. It will be able to attract and retain medical professionals, and will be linked to the medical faculty of the University of Burgas to support research and training for medical staff.

The building will be green and energy efficient, using solar panels and energy-saving lighting. A drainage system will collect and filter rainwater for the hospital’s green areas.