Air quality and the health risks related to air pollution were discussed by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva, the Deputy Minister of Health dr. Toma Tomov, and the Deputy Chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Health dr. Alexander Simidchiev, who is also the chairman of the “Air for Health” Association.

The Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Reneta Koleva presented current data, according to which there is a tendency towards a reduction in air pollution, but emphasized that our country has a lot to get done in this direction in order to improve the quality of life and health of Bulgarians. She presented the financial opportunities for investments in measures to improve air quality, provided by the “Environment 2021-2027” Program and the Enterprise for Management of Environmental Protection Activities. The new procedure for financing measures under municipal air programs is about to be launched, and this will be the first one under the new program. “By law, the main responsibility to take measures falls with the local authorities, therefore we provide the financial support,” said Reneta Koleva.

The Deputy Minister of Health Toma Tomov, in turn, expressed readiness for cooperation on improving the health status of Bulgarians related to air pollution in the country.

The Association “Air for Health” is a network of medical professionals from various medical institutions, regions and settlements in the country, united by the cause for clean air. The organization presented the health risks from bad air quality.

“For the first time, we are at the same table with representatives of the two ministries to discuss the problems in detail and seek joint solutions,” said dr. Simidchiev and expressed the association’s desire for cooperation with the two institutions. The participants in the meeting discussed the main problem – pollution with fine dust (particulate matter) caused by household heating and transport. The association made a commitment to assist municipalities through their network of medical professionals throughout the country in developing measures to improve air quality both in large cities and smaller settlements.

The meeting participants united around the need for cooperation between institutions and non-governmental organizations on the discussed issues. The association will draft and send specific proposals for health prevention and possible joint actions, for which a cooperation agreement will be signed with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Health.