Ruse is on its way to establishing a medical faculty despite warnings about an oversaturation of higher education institutions in the country. Preparations for the new unit are already underway, with the initiative spearheaded by the local hospital "Medica," which will train future doctors under the umbrella of the University of Ruse "Angel Kanchev."
A New Home for the Future Medical Faculty
The future faculty will be housed in the buildings of the former Pedagogical Institute in Ruse, located at 38 Riga Street in the Zdravets Iztoch Quarter. In its latest session, the caretaker government decided to change the property’s status from public state ownership to private state ownership, enabling easier management and investment. This move marks a crucial step in the realization of the project.
A Long-Term Process with Concrete Investment Plans
The procedure for changing the property’s ownership began in 2021 and covers eight buildings with a total area of 7,600 square meters. University Hospital "Medica," located nearby, has expressed interest in purchasing the property and investing in the establishment of a medical faculty. As a Class “A” investor, the hospital has the necessary resources to bring this ambitious idea to life.
Expectations and Regional Benefits
If the project is successfully implemented, the first students in human medicine in Ruse could begin their studies as early as the 2025/2026 academic year. Alice Murtezova, the administrative director of "Medica" medical institutions, confirmed that active work is being done on this initiative, though the process is complex and requires time.
The University of Ruse already has experience in training medical professionals— in 2024, the first cohort of physician assistants successfully graduated, and all of them found employment in the healthcare sector. The creation of a medical faculty will provide a significant boost to the city’s development, ensuring trained professionals for the healthcare system and establishing Ruse as a center for medical education in Northern Bulgaria.
This project represents a crucial step toward improving regional healthcare and providing high-quality training for future doctors. We eagerly await further developments to see whether Ruse will successfully position itself as an important educational hub for medical professionals.