The Association for the Development of Bulgarian Healthcare (ADBH) announced on Friday that it will submit a formal complaint on Monday to the Commission for Protection against Discrimination. The complaint addresses the refusal of the Bulgarian Medical Association and the National Health Insurance Fund to incorporate financing for biomarker diagnostics into the National Framework Contract. The ADBH emphasized that biomarker testing is critical for determining the sensitivity of specific cancers or metastases to various medications.
The association noted that without access to such testing, patients are limited to older therapies, which are often difficult to tolerate and may lack efficacy. Currently, Bulgaria stands as the sole country within the European Union where patients must finance biomarker testing privately, with associated costs ranging between EUR 500 and EUR 2,500. In its filing, the association seeks a formal finding of discrimination against cancer patients and requests that state authorities issue an order to rectify the situation.
Furthermore, the patient organization has urged individuals who have covered the costs of biomarker testing personally to contact the association to include their cases in future legal actions, including claims for compensation. The issue stems from budgetary changes, as funds earmarked for biomarker diagnostics within the National Health Insurance Fund’s 2026 budget were reportedly reclassified during the second reading, moving them from the medical services budget line to the medical devices budget line. The ADBH’s action underscores its commitment to ensuring that necessary diagnostic tools are covered to prevent medical discrimination against patients.
Topics: #association #discrimination #biomarker
