“90-year-old doctor climbs hill every day to treat 1,500 mountainous patients”

Key points

• Apostolov, age 90, climbs a hill daily to serve patients in Skrat, near Belasitsa.
• He has over 1,500 patients on his books across multiple villages.
• Bulgarian GPs retire late due to doctor shortages, especially in rural areas.
• In 2023, 54.5% of Bulgaria's doctors were 55 or older; average GP age over 61.
• Bulgaria has the EU's lowest life expectancy and high preventable mortality.