Bulgaria's health ministry has ordered 32 all-terrain Porsche Cayenne SUVs to act as ambulances to villages and settlements where regular cars have no access.

Health Minister Radoslav Gaydarski surprisingly broke the news of the expensive purchase during his stay in Veliko Tarnovo, Standart daily newspaper reported.

The pricy SUVs have been purchased with a loan by the World Bank.

A vehicle like that currently costs about USD 250,000, but the health ministry settled for the Porsches after they offered the lowest price in a tender, ministry officials claim. A total of 150 new ambulances have been ordered, including vehicles from the Peugeot, Ford and Volkswagen brands.

The purchase may create an uproar among citizens, who have been dissatisfied with the health services in the country, as the government's usual excuse is the lack of cash for that sector.

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