Spa staff training and spa accreditation

There are doctors, nurses, kinesitherapists and masseurs at the medical spas.  Doctors in Bulgaria must study for six years at the Medical faculty of the University followed by three years of specialization, for example in physiotherapy.  The managers of medical spas are generally qualified and experienced doctors and often specialists in physiotherapy, internal medicine or similar.  

Kinesitherapists are spa staff practicing ionophoresis, electro-, hydro- and laser treatments and have a Bachelor (four years) or Masters (five year) degree either from the Sports Academy or from the Medical University.  Most kinesitherapists specialise in sports, rehabilitation and eastern massage techniques such as acupuncture as well as carry out gym programmes like Pilates and yoga.  For the nurses, their education lasts three years at the Medical College, associated to the Medical University.

 

Medical spas in Bulgaria, whether private or state owned, must comply with strict standards in terms of facilities, methods of treatments and staff qualifications/requirements.  There are two types of medical spas:  The Sanatoria applies traditional medicine, is state owned and under the administration of the Ministry of health.  Private medical spas offer traditional medicine along with alternative medicine and some are privatised and renewed state Sanatoria, for example, the Orpheus Spa where both medial services and wellness treatments are available.  A reform involving privatisation of the Sanatoria is currently in process.  

 

Two associations oversee the private spas:  The Bulgarian Association for Balneotourism (email office@bab-bg.org) which represents mostly the medical spa aspects and the Bulgarian Spa & Wellness Association (no web site, but email nast.bulgaria@mail.bg) which represents mostly the wellness and new private spas.

 

Other professional organisations include the Bulgarian Association of Kinesitherapists and Rehabilitators, 21 Totleben Blvd, 1606 Sofia City Bulgaria.  (Tel 359 2 9154 493 or email kkostov1954@yahoo.co.uk) and the National Association for Spa Tourism is located at 1000 Sofia, 3 Bistritsa Str, tel +359 2 9813015).

 

We provide an enquiry service for information or quotations from up to three spa centres abroad for people interested in medical spa treatment abroad.