Historical Overview

        
        The Mental Health Centre – Veliko Tarnovo was founded in 1952 in the city of Veliko Tarnovo.   The institution was initially established under the name Regional Psycho-Neurological Dispensary (document number 2658 issued by the Bulgarian Government on the 20th of October 1950). The Founder and the first Head-Physician (executing the managerial function) of the institution is Dr Hristina Peihikova. Initially, there were only one consultation office and ten hospital beds in the establishment.

Since 1953 until 1959 the position of Head-Physician was occupied by Dr Andrei Barkashki. Subsequently, the position was occupied by Dr Ana Baicheva in 1960, Dr Dobrin Danchev in 1960, Dr Doncho Borajiev in 1961, Dr Rusan Nikolov since 1961 until 1967, Dr Dragomir Petkov since 1967 until 1969, Dr Tsonevska since 1969 until1973, Dr Bogdan Dimitrov since 1973 until 1990. For the period between 1990 and 1994 the position was occupied consecutively by Dr Cyril Grudkov, Dr Todor Tsankov and Dr Krasimir Chernev. Head of the institution for the period 1994 – 1996 was Dr Margarita Kotseva, for the period 1996-1997 was Dr Dimitar Ivanov and for the period 1998 – 2013 was Dr Georgi Parchev. Since January 2014 the Head position has been occupied by Dr Mariana Petrova.

            According to a Directive issued by the Bulgarian Ministry of Health (document number RD 20-46/04.08.2000) and a Decision made by the Municipal Council of Veliko Tarnovo (document number 215/14.09.2000) the Dispensary was registered as a company under the name Regional Dispensary for Psychiatric Disorders with Stationary – Veliko Tarnovo ltd. (in this regard document number 1257 was issued by the Veliko Tarnovo Regional Court on 28th August 2000).

             According to paragraph 46 section 2 of the Health Institutions Law, Directive MHC-127/2010 of the Bulgarian Ministry of Health and Decision 1043/19.08.2010 of the Municipal Council of Veliko Tarnovo, since 2010 the Institution has been named Mental Health Centre – Veliko tarnovo ltd.




The Mental Health Centre – Veliko Tarnovo is exercising the following activities:

1.  Emergency psychiatric help

2.  Diagnostic and treatment of people with mental disorders

3.  Monitoring and consultation for people with mental disorders, as well as home treatment

4.  Psychotherapy and psycho-social rehabilitation

5.  Psychiatric and psychological expert-activities

              6. Development and maintenance of the regional information system for people with mental disorders

               for the purposes of the national register according to paragraph 147 section 1 of the Bulgarian Health Law

7.  Promotion, prevention and improvement of mental health of the population

8.  Providing society with mental health related information

9. Providing social services for the community

10. Participation in clinical research and clinical studies