A Patient Access Partnership in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian initiative called "Health Partnership" was officially launched on 26 March 2015 at the Council of Ministers in Sofia. The initiative falls within the "Objectives for Health 2020" paper of the Bulgarian Health Ministry and follows the model of the European Patient Access Partnership platform, launched in January 2015.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister Mr. Boyko Borisov, who opened the meeting, welcomed this initiative to find a consensus on health related matters and declared the Government’s full support. Key government representatives of health institutions, representatives of professional unions of medical practitioners and care givers, patient organisations, industry, academia and health experts attended this launch meeting. 

The ‘Health Partnership’ will work as an advisory body to the Council of Ministers, which will provide a platform for discussion on health-related issues in Bulgaria.

Health Minister Dr. Petar Moskov will be the Chairperson of the new platform. He presented the main priorities on the agenda of the Partnership: healthcare reform, drug policy and quality of the healthcare system.

Three deputies representing the major partners will be soon appointed: patients’ representatives, healthcare professionals, and industry associations. EPF Board Member Dr. Stanimir Hasurdjiev, Chairperson of the Bulgarian National Patients’ Organization (NPO) was appointed as Secretary to the Partnership.

Contact: Stanimir Hasurdjiev, NPO Chairperson, stanimir.h@npo.bg