The Association of Social Workers from Bulgaria,represented by Valio Hristov, Diana Petrova and Ivailo Milanov, together with Ana Rădulescu (President of IFSW Europe) and Herbert Paulischin (Representative of the Association of Social Workers from Romania – ASproAS), recently met with Assoc. prof. Michail Okoliyski, Deputy Minister of Health from Bulgaria.
The meeting addressed the urgent need to bring social workers into hospitals, recognizing how crucial they are in providing essential support to people facing complex medical and social challenges.
IFSW Europe highlighted successful European models where social workers work alongside medical staff, addressing the emotional and social needs of patients during their care. Counseling provided by social workers aims to create the emotional and social comfort needed to accelerate healing, help the family respond to patients’ caregiving needs, and help patients become part of supportive social networks within the community.
The meeting emphasized the need for a team effort between the Bulgarian Ministry of Health and the Bulgarian Association of Social Workers. The Minister urged the Bulgarian Association of Social Workers to submit a proposal advocating for the inclusion of social workers in hospital organizational structures.
In a joint effort, the Association of Social Workers in Bulgaria will work closely with the Association of Social Workers in Romania (ASproAS) to build the necessary arguments for the employment of social workers in emergency rooms (UPU) and hospitals in Bulgaria.
Looking ahead to a series of upcoming work sessions, the Bulgarian Association of Social Workers and the Ministry of Health will continue to work together to develop a strategic plan. This plan will focus on integrating social workers into hospital care teams, taking a significant step towards providing more holistic and comprehensive support to patients.
Ana RADULESCU
President of IFSW Europe