The Association for the Development of Bulgarian Healthcare (ADBH) announced on Friday that it plans to file a complaint on Monday with the Commission for Protection against Discrimination. The complaint targets the Bulgarian Medical Association and the National Health Insurance Fund regarding their refusal to incorporate funding for biomarker diagnostics into the National Framework Contract. The ADBH stated that these tests are essential for determining which medications are effective against specific types of cancer or metastases.
Without access to such testing, patients are limited to older, basic therapies that can be difficult to tolerate and may lack efficacy. Currently, Bulgaria is noted as the sole EU nation where patients must cover the costs of this diagnostic testing themselves, with expenses ranging between EUR 500 and EUR 2,500. In its formal complaint, the association seeks a finding of discrimination against cancer patients and demands that state authorities take action to remedy the situation.
The patient organization is encouraging individuals who have personally paid for biomarker testing to contact the ADBH so their cases can be incorporated into future legal actions, potentially including claims for compensation. The issue gained traction when funds designated for biomarker diagnostics were allocated in the National Health Insurance Fund’s 2026 budget. However, during the second reading, an amendment was adopted that reclassified these funds, moving them from the medical services budget line to the medical devices budget line.
Topics: #association #discrimination #biomarker
