I booked an appointment by phone because their website offers only broad department names (gastroenterology, cardiology, etc.) and no details to find the specific specialist I needed, whose expertise in a specific field. It’s important, because while booking I was only told the name of the doctor, and advised that she works in the field I need. For private reasons I cannot write here exactly the medics specifics field I needed.
This was my first visit, I expected the front desk or reception near the entrance to help me locate the correct doctor. Instead, I encountered a poorly English-speaking staff member who could not assist. That in itself is a critical failure — a clinic advertising itself with a European standard should have English-speaking reception staff, especially at the main entrance.
The hospital is huge, with numerous corridors labeled only by department. They all have these small registration desks near each department. Since I could not find “…” on the site or in signage, and I had given the name of Dr. …, I expected to be directed properly. Instead, I was sent down one corridor, and when I arrived, the staff asked, “Which doctor?” I referred to Dr. …. They replied, “We don’t have that doctor.” Only after calling somewhere did they locate my appointment.
Then I was told to walk to a corridor, go through pediatrics, orthopedics, etc. I spent 15 minutes running around, showing my appointment confirmation (even translated into Bulgarian) and getting told “not here, go to another desk.” Every time I asked, I was redirected — “turn left,” “turn right.” The signs on doors offered no help. They don’t have room numbers at all! Finally I learned the doctor I was seeing was actually a surgeon, not a … — but how could I have known?
I eventually found someone who seemed sympathetic, then was sent to another desk, oddly at the pediatrics department. By then, I had missed the time of my appointment because I’d been wandering.
To top it off, I was forced to pay 140 lev upfront before seeing the doctor — in Europe, you pay after service. I had no assurance I’d even see the right doctor. Then I was told to walk down another corridor again — but there are no room numbers, only department names. If they had room numbers, even a child could find it easily.
I could have called again since the phone line claims to have an English option, but last time I waited 15 minutes for an answer. If I’m already at the hospital, staff should help me on the spot. It would have been so much faster if they designed the information and registration desks properly and had English speaking personnel at least there! I repeatedly told them I was a new patient, I knew nothing about their layout, and I needed help locating the doctor.
This experience was truly awful. I give Tokuda Acibadem the lowest possible rating. They do not deserve any praise with such disorganization, irresponsibility, and lack of English‑speaking staff. It’s not just language—they simply do not care about guiding patients properly. It’s shocking that a clinic branding itself with a “European approach” performs far worse than many smaller private clinics in Sofia.
Need total reorganisation of the hospital entry layout, Info desk, room numbers on cabinets, and info on the website, including proper doctors specialisations. Need to confirm once making the bookings online or via calls - the exact department the doctors works in, where it’s located in the hospital, etc.. just giving a doctors name is absolutely not enough!