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 over their refusal to incorporate funding for biomarker diagnostics into the National Framework Contract. The association stated that these tests are critical for determining which specific medications are effective against certain types of cancer or metastases.
Without access to such testing, patients are limited to older, basic therapies that may be less effective or difficult to manage. Currently, Bulgaria is reportedly the only EU nation where patients must pay out-of-pocket for these necessary diagnostics, with associated costs ranging between EUR 500 and EUR 2,500. Through its complaint to the Commission, the ADBH seeks a ruling finding discrimination against cancer patients and demands that state authorities take action to rectify the situation.
The patient organization is urging individuals who have personally covered the costs of biomarker testing to contact the association so their cases can be included in future legal actions, including claims for compensation. The funding for these vital biomarker diagnostics had previously been allocated in the National Health Insurance Fund’s 2026 budget. However, during the second reading of the budget, an amendment was adopted that relocated these funds from the medical services budget line to the medical devices budget line, creating the current coverage gap.
Topics: #association #discrimination #biomarker
