HEALTHCARE
SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
Health is one of the main factors that predefine welfare of society and its sustainable development. Despite decades of reforms in the Healthcare sector in Bulgaria, the share of dissatisfied population remains a significant portion.
NECESSITY
Healthcare is not an isolated phenomenon of the public-political processes of change in recent decades. The overall population’s health status is defined by a number of determinants which make it face numerous significant challenges. Bulgarian healthcare system follows the population’s needs and demands, however it does not fully cover them.
Chronic diseases are among the main challenges when it comes to Healthcare. Whereas in the circumstances of global epidemics infectious diseases remain within the focus of national and international institutions. The various pathogens of pandemic potential today pose even a bigger threat to the national and international security, as well as to the well-being of our communities. Counteracting it should be done at all public levels with the participation of experts, political figures, citizens and civil organizations.
CHALLENGES
- Implementing healthcare policy based on science and evidence.
- The inaccurate resource distribution – the system with the so-called clinical pathways, the priority funding of large hospitals only in several district cities and leaving the other regions in the country uncovered.
- Chronic shortage of specialists. Somewhat more than half of the medical staff in Bulgaria is above 50 years of age, according to the EUROSTAT data for the third quarter of 2020. Given this figure, our country ranks among the first in the EU. The emigration of young specialists is driven by the low possibility for adequate professional specialization and realization in the country. This is viewed as a major risk when considering the system's future operation.
- Comprehensive personnel policy in healthcare. There are not enough opportunities for specialization of doctors, particular medical fields are favored on the account of others; unfair funding of the various medical specializations.
- No purposeful, result-based prophylactics. It is necessary the focus of healthcare to be shifted from treatment rather to prophylactics.
- Low level of awareness and understanding of the organ donation issues.
MISSION
The organization works on the issues of public health, preventive, and social medicine, as well as vaccine preventable diseases. The expertise of the Astra Forum Foundation is supported by an Advisory Council, which includes researchers and practitioners in various fields of science, including medicine. Among the main tasks supporting the mission and objectives is the work on the national immunization calendar – mandatory and recommended immunizations and those applied under national programs.
A diverse set of activities applies the team of the organization throughout the country:
- Seminars and trainings for doctors in outpatient care on vaccine problems, COVID-19 and communication between doctors and patients to increase vaccination coverage in Bulgaria.
- Organization and participation in scientific and practical conferences for general practitioners and specialists in various medical specialties.
- Research in the field of medicine and health, which provide an evidentiary basis for the team's initiatives.
- Development of methodological manuals and adaptation of manuals of international organizations such as who and the United Nations.