Dr. Georgi Stranski University Hospital: A Pleven Landmark

Dr. Georgi Stranski University Hospital is a major medical institution in Pleven, Bulgaria, with a rich history dating back to 1865. Established before Bulgaria's liberation from Ottoman rule, the hospital began as a waqf (charitable endowment) treatment center under the order of Midhat Pasha. Initially located on the grounds of a local imaret (a type of soup kitchen), its first staff consisted of a foreign military doctor and two servants.During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, the hospital served as a crucial medical base, with notable Russian surgeons like Nikolay Pirogov working there. Bulgarian physician Georgi Stranski, a friend of revolutionary Hristo Botev, was also present. In 1879, Stranski became the hospital's first manager. The hospital expanded and moved to its current location in 1896.Today, the hospital is known for its modern facilities and practices, including robot-assisted surgery using the Da Vinci Surgical System. It is one of the few hospitals in Bulgaria with this technology. The hospital provides a wide range of medical services, including gynecology, internal medicine, surgery, orthopedics, urology, and more. It also serves as a teaching hospital, training future healthcare professionals.