The outpatient procedure for whole genome sequencing for oncology patients has been promulgated

Outpatient Procedure No. 50, which introduces whole genome sequencing for patients with newly diagnosed oncological diseases, has been promulgated. The procedure is included in Ordinance No. 9, which defines the package of healthcare activities guaranteed by the NHIF budget.

According to the NHIF draft budget for next year, the new procedure will be funded through medico-diagnostic activities, with 5 million BGN allocated for it.

The outpatient procedure covers diagnostic activities and services for health-insured individuals with a newly diagnosed oncological disease, referred by a clinical oncology commission for chemotherapy or pediatric hematology and oncology.
The objective is to identify clinically significant predictive and prognostic biomarkers that support the selection of targeted therapy, immunotherapy, anti-hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, or other treatment strategies.

The procedure includes:

• processing of biological material (pre-analytical stage),
• performing genetic analysis and generating results,
• documenting and providing the results to the patient.

Upon completion of the outpatient procedure, the patient receives information regarding the results of the conducted study.

The full text of the Ordinance can be viewed here.