The Association for the Development of Bulgarian Healthcare (ADBH) announced on Friday that it will submit a formal complaint on Monday. The complaint targets the Bulgarian Medical Association and the National Health Insurance Fund regarding their refusal to incorporate financing for biomarker diagnostics into the National Framework Contract. The association emphasized the critical role of these tests, noting that biomarker analysis is essential for determining which medications are effective against specific types of cancer or metastasis.
Without such diagnostic testing, patients are limited to older therapeutic options, which the group characterized as less effective and more challenging to manage. Currently, Bulgaria is reported to be the only country within the European Union where patients must cover the costs of this testing out-of-pocket, with expenses ranging between EUR 500 and EUR 2,500. In its complaint to the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, the ADBH seeks a formal finding of discrimination against cancer patients and demands that state authorities implement measures to resolve the issue.
The patient organization has urged individuals who have personally funded biomarker testing to contact the association so that their cases can be included in future actions aimed at protecting patient rights, including seeking compensation for damages. The funding issue stems from the 2026 budget, where funds allocated for biomarker diagnostics were reportedly moved during the second reading—shifting them from the medical services budget line to the medical devices budget line.
Topics: #association #discrimination #biomarker
