BMA Questions Health Minister Regarding Changes to Cancer Screening Programs

The Bulgarian Medical Association has submitted an official inquiry to the Minister of Health, Mikhail Okoliyski, regarding proposed changes to the screening algorithms for colorectal and cervical cancer. The position was prompted by an order dated April 1, which established working groups to develop a new organizational framework for the implementation of these programs.

In its letter, the professional organization questions the necessity of these changes, given that the current algorithms have already been approved by the expert structures under the National Cancer Control Plan 2027. According to the BMA, instead of proceeding with the actual implementation of the programs, a significant change in methodology is being proposed, including the introduction of pilot phases, changes to the tests used, and the removal of self-sampling.

The BMA expresses concern that such actions effectively lead to the replacement of already adopted decisions without the presentation of clear arguments. They point out that if the issue is related to the cost of the tests, solutions should be sought through financial mechanisms such as renegotiation or cost-effectiveness analysis, rather than by altering the entire methodology.

The letter emphasizes that conflating the issue of price with the chosen medical approaches creates uncertainty and delays the launch of programs that are crucial for the early detection of oncological diseases.

The professional organization demands a clear answer as to whether the Ministry is contesting the price parameters of the tests or the screening methodology itself, warning that a lack of consistency could undermine the stability of previously reached expert decisions.