Better disease prevention and health awareness are needed in Bulgaria

Health is the greatest asset, yet caring for it is a responsibility shared by patients, medical professionals, and institutions alike. Two doctors spoke to the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) about the need of improved prevention, better health awareness, and better working conditions for physicians. One of the doctors has many years of experience and the other is a young doctor just months away from the state exam to qualify as a specialist. Two generations and two perspectives on the challenges facing healthcare in this country.

One of the major problems in Bulgarian healthcare is people's lack of engagement with their own health, maxillofacial surgeon Dr. Lilyana Dimitrova says. According to her, there are many shortcomings in the local healthcare system, and even when patients have access to preventive screenings, they often put them due to fear of a potential diagnosis.

"People haven't grasped that their health is their own responsibility. Even when offered preventive examinations, or specific tests, they struggle to find the time for them. There is a fear of illness. This makes collaboration between doctors and patients difficult," Dr. Dimitrova says. According to her, additional challenges include the lack of a unified medical approach and the difficulty patients face in navigating the system. People often seek multiple opinions and the contradictions between them can lead to confusion and refusal to undergo treatment. Dr. Dimitrova, who has trained generations of doctors, also highlighted the uneven distribution of medical specialists across the country. She noted that entire regions remain underserved by specialists, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions. In the past, preventive care reached more people through various forms of organized healthcare, whereas today the responsibility has shifted largely to the patient, said Dr. Lilyana Dimitrova, identifying the population's level of health literacy as a major issue.

More information campaigns developed with the participation of medical professionals are needed, young physician Dr. Mina Markova says. According to her, patients should have access to understandable and reliable information so they can grasp the importance of prevention and timely treatment. Dr. Mina Markova is specializing in endocrinology and metabolic diseases and says that despite the challenges many young doctors choose to remain in Bulgaria. She sees her future career in her home country. The reason is simple: she loves her country, her family and home are here, and she wants to treat her fellow citizens. She sincerely believes that change in the medical sector here is possible and that, through joint efforts, healthcare services can be improved. She is encouraged by the fact that the majority of her graduating class chose to stay in Bulgaria after completing their studies four years ago: "Most of them, of course, headed to hospitals in major cities for their specialization, but there were also those who returned to their hometowns or settled in smaller communities. That really pleased me. We discussed our uncertainty about the future, but most of us certainly wanted to stay here in our homeland and treat Bulgarian patients, rather than going abroad. There are already signs of positive change in some areas and I hope things will continue to improve. I believe the medical community and the authorities need to move forward in this direction, as it is important for all of us," Dr. Markova says. She pointed out that one of the challenges facing young doctors is the need to work in multiple places to maintain a decent standard of living. According to her, this limits time for rest and family and places an additional burden on medical professionals. She also highlighted the serious issue of medical care becoming increasingly concentrated in large cities in recent years, while other places experience lack of doctors.

Dr. Dimitrova and Dr. Markova took part in the 25th National Meeting of the Media, Society, Family, Traditions Foundation, which brings together doctors, public figures, politicians, and media representatives to inform the public about medical advancements in the country.