Cancer patients from all over the country participated in a forum, organized by the Association of patients with oncological diseases, dedicated to the development of oncology care in our country and the unsolved problems in the health care system, associated with cancer. In the event, which is organized on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of patients with oncological diseases, patients were included, health professionals, social work experts, journalists, etc.
"For 20 years APOZ has been working to improve access to health care for Bulgarian cancer patients. Some of our pilot projects have been recognized by the state, others – from health facilities, but still comprehensive care for cancer patients is fragmented and patients wander in search of their path to treatment", commented during the opening of the forum, the chairman of APOZ, Evgenia Aleksandrova. She added, that for its existence the association has improved access to modern therapies through its patient expertise, applied a model of psychosocial care in medical facilities, which is also the reason why psychologists are side by side with doctors in medical institutions.
In the framework of their presentations, the medical specialists emphasized the novelties in the treatment of cancer, as well as the possibilities of modern medicine to reduce the consequences of the disease, thanks to innovative therapies and approaches. Dr. Mila Petrova from the Bulgarian Association of Medical Oncology also presented a mobile home care service for cancer patients. Dr. Georgi Dimitrov from the Bulgarian Scientific Society of Immuno-oncology emphasizes on the introduction of immune therapy in the conditions of personalized treatment, and Dr. Neofit Spasov from the Department of Pediatric Oncohematology at the "St. George" UMBAL presented the alarming state of the treatment of oncological diseases in children in our country. Patients, in turn, added to the discussion, that we lack effective patient navigation, to "accompany" patients throughout the treatment process, as well as complexity, which does not let the patient get lost on the way to treatment.
Focus on colon cancer prevention, as one of the modern whips globally presented by the Lachezar Tsotsorkov Foundation, who are launching a national screening program for early detection of this disease among at-risk communities. Close 6000 free screening tests were done in Sofia during the organization's pilot program. Our country lags behind in terms of prevention, early diagnosis, the treatment and survival of patients with oncological diseases, the civil organization also commented. For her part, lawyer Meglena Micheva emphasizes the basic rights of cancer patients, by focusing on the right to be forgotten, which would guarantee the right of patients to use various forms of public assistance, better lending etc. About the availability of information about medicines and medicinal products in our country and in the EU, as well as for the use of various digital tools for verifying information, related to drugs in oncology spoke from the National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products, and a representative of the National Health Insurance Fund comments on what possibilities Bulgarians can receive treatment abroad at the expense of the state budget.
THE FORUM IS HELD WITH THE SUPPORT OF:
