The Association for the Development of Bulgarian Healthcare (ADBH) announced on Friday that it plans to submit a formal complaint on Monday to 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 organization stressed that biomarker testing is vital because it determines the sensitivity of specific cancers or metastases to certain medications.
Without this diagnostic capability, patients are limited to older, basic therapies that can be poorly tolerated and may lack efficacy. Currently, Bulgaria remains the sole country in the European Union where patients must bear the full cost of this essential testing, with expenses ranging between EUR 500 and EUR 2,500. In its filing, the association seeks a finding of systemic discrimination against cancer patients and demands that state authorities intervene to remedy the situation.
Furthermore, the patient advocacy group is urging individuals who have paid for biomarker testing out-of-pocket to contact the association. This will allow the group to consolidate cases for potential future actions, including claims for compensation. The issue stems from recent budgetary changes, as funds designated for biomarker diagnostics were allocated in the National Health Insurance Fund’s 2026 budget.
However, during the second reading of the budget, an amendment was adopted that shifted these funds from the medical services budget line to the medical devices budget line, complicating access to necessary care.
Topics: #association #discrimination #biomarker
