Access to targeted therapy for prostate cancer in Bulgaria

Prostate cancer is one of the leading malignant diseases among men. With the increase in average life expectancy, an ever-growing proportion of the population is at elevated risk of developing prostate cancer. In recent years, the treatment of malignant diseases has made substantial progress, with innovative medicinal products playing a central role in achieving these outcomes. Access to innovative therapy is a priority for the European Commission and the member states of the European Union. The aim is to reduce the incidence and mortality of malignant diseases while improving patient survival. In Bulgaria, patients with oncological diseases experience delayed access to new medicinal therapies. This delay is due in part to the national regulatory framework and the process of including new medicinal products in the positive drug list or expanding the therapeutic indications of already reimbursed medicines. The delay in access to modern therapy for patients with prostate cancer in Bulgaria is substantial compared with many EU countries.