The government allocates €1.5 million for pediatric research and obstetric care for the uninsured

The Council of Ministers approved funding for the Ministry of Health for 2026 in the amount of €1,534,000, intended to ensure activities under Ordinance No. 26 of 2007, the government press office announced. The funds will support the provision of obstetric care to uninsured women, the performance of medical examinations outside the scope of compulsory health insurance for children and pregnant women, as well as the organization and implementation of an expanded neonatal screening program for congenital and severe diseases.

Currently, mass screening of newborns for three rare diseases—phenylketonuria, congenital hypothyroidism, and congenital adrenal hyperplasia—is carried out in Bulgaria. Screening for three additional diseases is set to be introduced: severe combined immunodeficiencies, spinal muscular atrophy, and cystic fibrosis. Early diagnosis through screening programs allows for the timely initiation of treatment, which significantly reduces the risk of severe complications and disability.

In a separate decision, the government approved additional funding for the Ministry of Health in the amount of €141,803 for the needs of the Regional Center for Transfusion Hematology – Burgas. The funds are intended for an interim payment under a contract for the reconstruction and remodeling of part of an existing building, executed in accordance with the Public Procurement Act.

The Regional Center for Transfusion Hematology in Burgas was established by a decree of the Council of Ministers on July 31, 2024, with its primary task being to provide a sustainable and long-term solution for supplying medical facilities in the region with the necessary quantities of blood and blood components. The project complies with current legislation and strategic priorities in the healthcare sector.