NHIF and BMA Issue Positions on Biomarker Diagnostics Following Patient Complaints

The National Health Insurance Fund and the Bulgarian Medical Association have issued positions on the funding of biomarker diagnostics after patient organizations filed a complaint with the Commission for Protection against Discrimination, BTA reports.

The NHIF states that it is working on creating a sustainable funding mechanism for this type of testing to improve access to personalized treatment. The Fund notes that a new outpatient procedure has already been established for so-called next-generation sequencing (NGS) for patients with newly diagnosed oncological diseases. It is included in the draft National Framework Agreement for the 2026–2028 period, but its actual implementation is contingent upon the adoption of the 2026 NHIF budget.

The institution further indicates that it has sent inquiries to EU member states regarding public funding practices for biomarker testing in order to implement a functional model in Bulgaria.

For its part, the Bulgarian Medical Association emphasizes that as early as November 2025, Outpatient Procedure No. 50 was introduced via Ordinance No. 9 of the Ministry of Health, which includes modern diagnostic methods such as targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) and comprehensive genomic profiling. According to them, these tests provide more precise diagnostics and support the selection of the most appropriate therapy.

The professional organization disputes some of the claims made by patient organizations, stating that they are incorrect and damage the reputation of the Association.

Both institutions point out that the introduction of funding for biomarker diagnostics requires a regulatory framework, financial resources, and the signing of a new National Framework Agreement, noting that the process remains underway.