site.btaLow Vaccination Coverage against Cervical Cancer, Lack of Screening and Staffing Crisis in Bulgaria

A report on Bulgaria from the European Cancer Organisation indicated a very low vaccine coverage against cervical cancer, lack of screening and personnel crisis reports . The data was presented during a round table, titled “Time to Accelerate. Together against cancer in Bulgaria", which was held under the auspices of MP Rositsa Pandova.

Oncological diseases are a key problem for society and healthcare, and despite advances in medicine, remain a major cause of loss of life, Pandova said. She pointed out that 2.5% of Bulgarians have cancer. About 2.5% of cancers are due to the human papillomavirus, and both sexes are vulnerable, the MP added. In Bulgaria, free vaccination against the virus is provided for girls aged 11-14, but only 0.9% of the girls in this age group are vaccinated, added Pandova.

The presented report states that in this country, oncological diseases are the second larges cause of death. In Bulgaria, there is a difference in cancer prevention carried out in rural and urban regions, said Norbert Couespel, senior coordinator at the European Cancer Organisation. Compared to other European countries, Bulgaria is at the tail end when it comes to prevention, he added. Regarding cervical cancer screening, Bulgaria has good results, but there is no organized screening in the country, added Couespel and pointed out that 2.5% of women living in rural areas have difficulty accessing screening. The implementation of the National Cancer Plan is important, the data collection registry is also important, as this is how future policies are made, he added. In Bulgaria, breast cancer screening last year covered 20.6% of the target group, while in the EU it covered 54%, the report also shows. The document adds that 56.8% of the target group were screened for cervical cancer in Bulgaria, while the indicator for the EU is 56%. Colon cancer screening in Bulgaria has covered 3.6% of the target group, while in the EU it is 36%. This country also lacks organized screening programmes for lung cancer and prostate cancer.

Deputy Minister of Health Assoc. Prof. Mihail Okoliiski recalled that this year, much more funds have been earmarked for prevention compared to previous years. Bulgaria successfully created a National Plan to fight cancer, which was presented in Brussels and approved by the European partners, but the issue is to implement it in the best way, especially for the early diagnosis of oncological diseases, added Okoliiski.

The health care workforce shortage in the EU will become even more significant, with an average of 33% of doctors most likely to leave the system in the next 12-13 years, meaning a third of the workforce needs to be replaced in that period, said Matthias Wismar, Programme Manager at the Observatory based in Brussels, who took part in the forum online.. In Italy, Bulgaria, Latvia, Estonia, France and Germany, 55% of doctors will retire in the next 12-13 years.

Within the framework of the forum, the European Cancer Manifesto for 2024 was briefly presented. The document envisages early cancer diagnosis, elimination of oncological diseases related to the human papillomavirus and hepatitis B virus, solving the problem of the personnel crisis in health care. The manifesto will be presented to all EU countries and then to MEPs in the European Parliament, said Mike Morrissey, Chief Executive of the European Cancer Organisation.