Specific objective

To ensure appropriate and cost effective, educational, health, social care and cultural infrastructures consistent with future demands of the cities and their surrounding urban areas.

Operation rationale

The provision of sustainable urban development could not be achieved only through investments in basic infrastructure. It is a much wider process, which includes also sustainable social development - in terms of educational, cultural, social care and health infrastructure. In all Bulgarian NUTS II regions, the common case is that the social infrastructure is ill-adapted to current situation and emergent needs or is in disrepair. The optimisation and modernisation of social infrastructure will result in a higher quality of life, and assist the improvement of the human capital and labour market in the regions, thus contributing to Lisbon objectives.

Interventions under this operation are important for promotion of economic, social and cultural integration of the urban areas. There will be also interventions focused on making the urban infrastructure friendlier for the needs of disabled people. Moreover, the benefits from the supported activities under this priority will spread through the cities’ surrounding areas and will positively affect the nearby least favoured areas. Activities under this operation will be complementary to soft interventions under the OP “HRD” concentrated in the urban areas and will be coordinated between the managing authorities.

Regarding educational and cultural infrastructure this operation will be focused on schools, which serve children from neighbouring municipalities and community centres located in the districts. Priority will be given to energy efficiency measures and implementation of renewable energy installations in educational infrastructure buildings, in order to improve the micro-climate in universities, schools and kindergartens and create conditions for conducting a normal study process; to improve the sanitary and hygienic conditions and decrease the losses of energy.

Under operation 1.1 any new construction, reconstruction or refurbishment, renovation of buildings will aim at improving the energy performance, in accordance with Directive 2002/91/EC. The extent of using energy savings, energy efficiency or use of renewable energy resources in the projects will be an important criterion for selection of projects.

Cities are also important centres for quality medical provision and public health care institutions. The analysis of Bulgarian health care system necessitates interventions in the following priorities in full compliance with the adopted by the CoM in August 2010 Conception for restructuring of the hospital care in Bulgaria for the period 2010-2015:

a)  Improving early diagnosis, quality and access to oncology treatment

b) Improving availability of long term care for the population

c) Ensuring sustainable financing of the health system and effective use of resources

To address priority a) above, the Ministry of Health plans to conduct the following interventions for the state owned hospitals (51% and more state property):

For the National Centres of Excellence for oncology treatment: investment in innovative technologies and early diagnosis and treatment of oncological diseases through purchasing high technology treatment equipment in  three hospitals. In one of the hospitals high technology radio isotope for early diagnosis will be produced and used in the other two hospitals;

For the Regional Centres for Early Detection of Oncological Diseases: investment in innovative technologies and equipment for early diagnostic of oncological diseases, as well as related reconstruction works in nine hospitals listed in the adopted by the CoM Conception for restructuring of the hospital care in Bulgaria.;

To address priorities b) and c) above the following interventions in medical facilities for hospital care and oncology dispensaries with 51% and more municipal property will be made:
- Oncological specialized hospitals/ dispensaries with 51% and more municipal property, which will be transformed in complex oncological centres according to the amendments in the Medical Facilities Act. The investments will be in construction and refurbishment activities, as well as in equipment for oncological basic treatment and diagnosis.
- Large municipal hospitals. The investments will be in modern equipment ensuring effective use of medical care recources (according to priority c) as well as in related repair and reconstruction activities.The rationale of this investment is to ensure effective functioning of hospitals and access of population to innovative equipment for diognosis and treatment without the need of going to district hospitals.

The specific hospitals to be intervened are listed in the Conception for restructuring of the hospital care in Bulgaria.

All interventions for the Hospices for medical and social care for children (HMSCC’s) between 0 and 3 years will be in compliance with the Vision For de-institutionalization of children in the Republic of Bulgaria adopted by Council of Ministers in February 2010. The vision envisages for all vulnerable children and their families to be provided high level community services responding to their individual needs up to 2020.  The first stage of the intervention will be realized as an integrated project for intfrastructural measures under OP “Regional Development” and development of new health and social services under OP “Human Resources Development” The project will be realized on the basis of the Guidelines for deinstitutionalization prepared by the high-level working group on deinstitutionalization, including representatives from government institutions and NGOs. Currently there is a pilot model for deinstitutionalization in the town of Teteven realized by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy, State Agency for Child Protection and Agency for Social Care. This project will be used as a model for deinstitutionalization in the other HMSCCs.  

The investment will be directed at:

• creating infrastructure for services for prevention of accommodating children up to 3 years of age outside their families and developing alternative family care for children separated by their families;
• replacing HMSCCs. with new integrated health and social community services for support of families with small children with special focus on the children with diabilities.

Initiatives that aim to tackle social, educational and health problems of Roma minorities and measures for preserving the Roma cultural identity (such as Roma cultural centres etc.) will be encouraged.

List of indicative activities to be supported

• Reconstruction, refurbishment and equipment of educational institutions – pre-school facilities, primary and secondary schools and universities (e.g. lecture facilities, libraries, laboratories, sport facilities, campuses, internet connections);
• Reconstruction, refurbishment and equipment of medical and health establishments and emergency healthcare (including ambulances), primary, specialized outpatient and in-patient care
• Reconstruction, refurbishment, extension and equipment of medical radiotherapeutic facilities, connected with socially important cancer-related diseases;
• Reconstruction, refurbishment and equipment of institutions providing social services and labour offices;
• New construction, reconstruction, renovation and conversion of social institutions in urban agglomerations for children deprived of parental care and children with disabilities, supporting the processes of deinstitutionalisation and reintegration;
• Development of cultural infrastructure through reconstruction, refurbishment and equipment of cultural centres, theatres, community centres (‘chitalishte’), libraries, and other facilities related to cultural life;
• Energy consumption audits and energy efficiency measures for all projects related to public institutions mentioned above (e.g. thermal insulation, replacement of woodwork, local installations connected to central heating systems, gas supply connecting pipelines or alternative renewable energy sources); 
• Access facilities to public institutions mentioned above for disabled people;
• Establishing and promotion of innovative cultural events.

Beneficiaries

Ministry of Education, Youth and Science, specific beneficiary for state-owned education facilities, Ministry of Health, specific beneficiary for state-owned health and medical establishments, Ministry of Culture, specific beneficiary for state-owned cultural institutions, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy/Social Assistance Agency, specific beneficiary for state-owned social services facilities, Ministry of Labour and Social Policy/Employment Agency, specific beneficiary for labour offices, municipalities for the municipal-owned facilities, NGO’s and universities when they act as non-profit operators in order to deliver healthcare, social care, educational or cultural services.

Last modified: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 2:49 PM