Due to the lack of a clear path and standards, patients do not believe in Bulgarian oncology -

July 10, 20240

Leading experts in the field of oncology and non-governmental organizations announced on Monday the creation of a National Hub of the European Mission to Fight Cancer. Its purpose is to support the implementation of the policies of the European Anti-Cancer Plan, improving the overall process of diagnosis and treatment of patients with oncological diseases.

The leading oncologist and chairman of the Joint Oncology National Network (JONM) Assoc. Prof. Dimitar Kalev reported that so far there are no real activities under the Bulgarian Beating Cancer Plan. In addition, he explained that our country starts from a much lower position than other countries in the implementation of the measures of the European Anti-Cancer Plan.

“Bulgaria is the only European country that does not have a cancer registry, no screening programs, no guides based on scientific evidence, no criteria for the effectiveness of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and no bodies to monitor and control this effectiveness. There is no prescribed route for the oncology patient and effective palliative care,” said Assoc. Prof. Kalev.

He explained that the overall path of an oncology patient includes about 34 different specialties, which in an organized health system are strictly arranged, financed and dressed in performance criteria that are monitored by certain authorities. “In our country, the patient is lost between the different stages. He became depressed and refused to follow this path and migrated to foreign medical institutions where the organization was perfect, usually Turkey, Germany or Austria. The Bulgarian patient instinctively does not trust Bulgarian oncology. And the percentage of such patients is growing rapidly, and I am very concerned about this,” commented Assoc. Prof. Kalev.

Medical oncologist Dr. Asya Konsulova said that in Bulgaria there are extremely good oncologists and there are good places where quality oncological care is practiced, but this is not in the form of established standards whose implementation should be monitored.

“The first step is the creation of cancer centers that meet about 300 criteria and the quality is monitored. There is still no such way of thinking and such an organization in Bulgaria. At the next level, comprehensive cancer centers should be created, covering specific criteria in each area: from prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up time intervals to family care after the patient has died. All this must meet standards and the quality of this care can be measured and compared.”, said Dr. Konsulova, head of the Clinic of Medical Oncology at the Specialized Hospital of Oncology in Sofia.

She explained that in Bulgaria there are programs for preventive examinations that are available to general practitioners, but this is not essentially screening.

“Screening follows certain criteria and its effectiveness is measured based on the number of people involved,” she said. Dr. Konsulova also drew attention to the importance of continuing medical training and follow-up of rapidly changing oncology practice.

Mira Ganova, Executive Director of the Bulgarian Cluster for Digital Solutions and Innovations in Healthcare (DHI Cluster Bulgaria), said that currently medical knowledge of a particular indication doubles in 70 days, compared to 3.5 years in 2000. “You can imagine the huge amount of information that needs to be caught up quickly in order to be able to make effective decisions about the treatment of patients,” she pointed out and added that this requires the introduction of innovations in oncological care.

The initiative for a Bulgarian National Hub of the Beating Cancer Mission is co-led by the Collaborative Oncology National Network (CONM), the Center for European Health Policies and the Bulgarian Cluster for Digital Solutions and Innovations in Healthcare (DHI Cluster), which is an associate member.

Източник: Заради липсата на ясен път и стандарти пациентите не вярват в българската онкология – Mediapool.bg

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