News

3 December 2025

Long-standing problems with access to medical devices, assistive devices, and equipment for people with disabilities were the focus of today's meeting of the Monitoring Committee under the Persons with Disabilities Act, attended by Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva and Deputy Ombudsman Maria Filipova.

The meeting was convened by the administrating body, the Commission for Protection against Discrimination (CPD), on the occasion of December 3 – International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In addition to members of organisations for persons with disabilities, representatives of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities also attended.

Veska Sabeva, Deputy Chair of the National Council and Chair of the Association of Parents of Children with Epilepsy, highlighted the absurdities in the current list of medical devices, which still includes products from the World War II era. She insisted on its urgent updating with modern and adequate devices.

Filip Dimitrov, Chairman of the National Center for People with Disabilities Association, pointed out that there were only three companies in Bulgaria offering mechanical wheelchairs for up to BGN 4,000, but the models did not meet the needs of many users. According to him, it is necessary for large European distributors—Belgian, German, and Italian—to enter the market.

Dr. Petya Stratieva, Chair of the Retina Bulgaria Association, has warned that intraocular lenses cost between BGN 750 and over BGN 3,000, making them unaffordable for many elderly people. They are still not included in the reimbursement list.

At the end of the meeting, it was decided to organise a joint meeting with the members of the National Council of People with Disabilities, the relevant ministers and the management of the Bulgarian Drug Agency and the National Health Insurance Fund to discuss possible solutions to the problems raised.

Maria Krasteva, Chair of the Association of Parents of Children with Hearing Impairments, presented to the meeting participants a video entitled "All Hearts Beat the Same," produced as part of a project funded by the Agency for People with Disabilities, with the participation of children and young people with hearing impairments.