UNDERSTANDING THE SITUTATION OF HEALTH CARE IN EASTERN EUROPE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELDS OF GIST Mr. Stefan Mandov – GIST Alliance for patients Bulgaria

GIST Alliance for Patients Bulgaria Website: Cancer treatment is a National priority Cancer patients have some social and financial benefits. Cancer therapy is reimbursed at 100%. Treatment - covered by The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Cancer treatment - 13 Regional oncologic centres and National Oncologic Hospital inSofia. SPAEN Conference November , Florence

Orphan drugs – limited access caused by long administrative procedures and limited information. GIST cases – since 2007 the disease has become well known. GIST Alliance for Patients Bulgaria SPAEN Conference November , Florence

GIST Alliance for Patients Bulgaria What are the major problems in GIST treatment : The lack of information; The lack of reference pathology laboratory to determine the diagnosis; The lack of multidisciplinary team specialized in GIST treatment; The reimbursement process takes a lot of time; No compassionate and off-label use of drugs; No clinical trials. SPAEN Conference November , Florence * GIST Alliance for patients Bulgaria

GIST Alliance for Patients Bulgaria Who are we? Founded – January 2012 President – Mrs. Juliana Popova, Board members and coordinators – Mr. Stefan Mandov and Mrs. Adelina Mihajlova. Today Associations – 14 registered members Medical Consultant – Rossitza Krasteva MD Thank you very much! What have we done? April Member of SPAEN May Member of ECPC July leaflets with useful information June National meeting of GIST patients in Bulgaria October psychological support SPAEN Conference November , Florence