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 essential biomarker diagnostics into the National Framework Contract. According to the association, these diagnostic tests are critical because they determine the sensitivity of specific cancers or metastases to various medications.
Without access to such testing, patients are limited to receiving older therapies that are often poorly tolerated and less effective. The situation creates a significant barrier, as Bulgaria currently stands as the only country in the European Union where patients must finance this testing privately, with costs ranging between EUR 500 and EUR 2,500. In its filing with the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, the association seeks a ruling establishing discrimination against cancer patients and demanding that state authorities take measures to rectify the situation.
The funding for these vital biomarker diagnostics had been allocated within the National Health Insurance Fund’s 2026 budget. However, during the second reading process, an amendment shifted these funds from the medical services budget line to the medical devices budget line. The patient organization is advising individuals who have incurred out-of-pocket expenses for biomarker testing to contact the association.
This will allow the group to include their cases in future legal actions aimed at protecting patient rights, which may include seeking compensation for damages.
Topics: #association #discrimination #biomarker
