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© Velko Angelov
The nurse on duty at the XIII DCC covid office Irina Kolarska
People can also be screened at the covid offices at nine Diagnostic and Consulting Centers (DCC) in Sofia. without a referral from a personal physician. This possibility is not explained to patients in some DCCs and to people with symptoms, but without a referral, they pay for the examination and rapid antigen test – BGN 40. This showed a “Dnevnik” mark.
In line for an exam in front of the covid office at XII DCC in “Lyulin-9”, people are outraged that their personal physician is refusing to see them and that is why they came for an exam without a referral.
© Maxim Karadzhov
In front of the XII DCC office in “Lyulin”
“If you are without a referral and you have symptoms, you pay 40 leva and we do the test and other tests,” explains the nurse on duty at the covid office.
In XIII DCC for symptoms the test is free
All patients with symptoms are examined and evaluated free of charge at the XIII DCC in the Lozenets region, 20 Dimitar Hadjikotsev Street. “Only those who have had contact with infected people and come without symptoms, but want to check if they are infected, pay and we do a test,” explains Dr. Ivanov, a doctor on duty at the Covid office.
The test is rapid, antigenic, and the result is ready in 3 minutes. Shows if the virus is present in the upper respiratory tract.
The municipality provided us with free rapid antigen tests
“The Municipality of Sofia gave us rapid antigen tests absolutely free and we do them for patients who have symptoms, free of charge,” confirmed XIII DCC manager, Dr. Raina Bozhkova. She also takes shifts in the covid cabinet.
In principle, we want the GPs to give a referral or form №119, which certifies that they have seen the patient and has symptoms and, therefore, refer him to the Covid office, so that the test can be carried out for free, recommended Dr. Bozhkova.
© Maxim Karadzhov
People wait for an exam in front of the covid cabinet in “Lyulin”
Symptom testing is free at Oborishte District XVII DCC
At DCC 17 in Oborishte district, 108 Hristo and Evlogi Georgievi Blvd., they also perform a rapid antigen test without a referral from a personal physician if the patient exhibits symptoms, the health institution explained.
There are active covid offices in Sofia in the following DCCs: VIII, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XVII, XVIII, XX and XXII. Their working hours are different and the contact numbers can be found here.
So far, a total of 1,175 people have been examined in them, and 1,136 patients have been tested, 361 are positive, which is 31.7%, the municipality announced. “We recommend that citizens make an appointment in advance so that they do not have to wait in front of the offices. Registration is done through the online platform Myhealth.bg, where the hours of the covid offices in the DCC are given”, added the municipality.
Sudden headache and lack of sense of smell are the most accurate symptoms
After two days of work in the Covid office, Dr. Bozhkova discovered that patients with a loss of the sense of smell always give a positive test result. “Predominantly in people who do not have hypertension, the disease begins suddenly with a severe headache and is not affected by any pain relievers (pain relievers),” he explained.
People who test positive, including those without health insurance, are prescribed treatment and signed up for consultations with a pulmonologist and internist, added Dr. Bozhkova. So far, 30% of those surveyed have been infected.
A more detailed examination indicates the extent of the disease.
“We offer an additional test to all people with a positive test and blood tests, which determine the severity of the disease. They are not paid by the health insurance fund, but they are important and we persuade patients to get tested. The price is about 50 leva, “he explained. . Then the patient is sent to the GP or directly to a hospital if necessary. People from all over Sofia come to the XIII DCC for an exam, said the doctor on duty at the Covid office, Dr. Ivanov.
The municipality confirmed that the test is free for symptoms
The municipality of Sofia also confirmed that people with symptoms can get tested for free and without a referral from a personal doctor.
“Patients who are referred by their personal doctors are examined in the cozy rooms of the DCC or have symptoms. If a person without symptoms wants to take an antigen test, they will have to pay for it ”, it is written today on the website of the Sofia City Council.
The recommendation of the municipality is that patients request a referral to the personal physician, but if they do not have one, “it is good to give the exact names and phone numbers of your personal physician in the concurrent offices and from which DCC it is.” Therefore, the health institution that performed the antigen test can request payment.
