site.btaBulgarian Position for Informal Meeting of Health Ministers Approved

The cabinet Friday approved Bulgaria's position and the mandate for its presentation at the informal meeting of health ministers in Brussels on April 23-24. The discussions during the informal Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council will concentrate on health workforce, pharmaceutical legislation and the European Beating Cancer Plan.

On the first topic, Bulgaria will argue that attracting medical specialists to a particular region or supporting the retention of shortage specialties are key tasks at national level that can be supported by the EU. Measures are also included in Bulgaria's National Recovery and Resilience Plan. At EU level, an effective option would be the implementation of a European strategy supporting the exchange of experience and good practices.

As to guaranteeing the supply of medicines, Bulgaria believes that Member States should retain their autonomy in the pricing of medicines, and any cooperation at EU level in this area should be on a voluntary basis, without a binding framework or predefined quantities.

Regarding primary preventive care, Bulgaria will make a progress report the implementation of the National Programme for the Prevention of Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases 2021-2025 and the national budget policy for outpatient care.