Bulgaria's Spartan Healthcare Strategy

Investing in stadiums and major sport halls is an excellent idea, since they keep the population healthy, Bulgaria's Finance Minister Simeon Djankov has stated on at least two occasions.

A rather puzzling statement from a Minister in a country, in which most hospitals are financially struggling, a vast percentage of people cannot afford medicine and the healthcare system is on the verge of collapse.

People cannot afford medical treatment? Well, let's make them run around like idiots in some of our brand new stadiums, that will somehow cure them.

Of course, the ordinary folk is not likely to benefit much from the new stadiums' miraculous healing power, since they are designed for professional athletes.

It is not Djankov who stands behind the upcoming boom of Bulgaria's sport facilities. It is his boss, Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who dreams sports, eats sports and will love to face you in any kind of sport, especially if there is chicken, ice-cream or pork involved.

Borisov's stadium-building fervor is fueled by a close friend of him, Hristo Stoichkov, the famous Barcelona striker from the 90's and the reason why all Spanish referees at the time were acquainted with Bulgarian profanities.

Stoichkov, recently appointed Bulgarian honorary consul in Barcelona (?) has already vowed to bring Spanish investors.

Borisov and Stoichkov's ambition to not only raise a new national stadium but several stadiums seems to have a bright future, as Djankov has said he is willing  to invest BGN 140 M (nearly EUR 72 M) in support of the projects.

Alas, this is not the case with Bulgaria's hospitals.

Which reminds me it would not be a bad idea to for Borisov to be sent to a psychiatric examination while the service is still available in Bulgaria.

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