Ministry of Health Establishes Fund for Prevention and Treatment of Gambling Addiction

The caretaker Minister of Health, Assoc. Prof. Mikhail Okoliyski, announced the establishment of a fund for the prevention, treatment, and therapy of gambling addiction. This took place during a joint briefing at the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria with Prime Minister Andrey Gyurov and snowboarders Tervel Zamfirov and Malena Zamfirova.

According to the Minister, the fight against gambling addiction is among the key priorities of the health department, as the problem affects thousands of families and has serious social and economic consequences. The new fund will finance activities aimed at prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation.

It is planned that various institutions—including regional health inspectorates, hospitals, and other organizations—will be able to apply for support for specific projects related to curbing addiction.

As part of the initiative, the two young athletes will participate as ambassadors for the cause of better public health. The idea is to use their personal example to raise awareness about the risks of gambling, especially among young people.

The Ministry of Health expressed expectations that efforts in this direction will continue in the future, with the aim of building a more sustainable policy for the prevention of addictions.