Bulgaria antibiotic consumption shows significant regional disparities

Data released by the Bulgarian Association One Health reveals significant regional disparities in antibiotic consumption across Bulgaria. In 2025, a total of 5,364,784 antibiotic packs were prescribed nationwide, averaging 835 packs per 1,000 people.

Regional consumption varies by up to three times. While regions like Haskovo (535/1,000) and Kardzhali (631/1,000) reported the lowest usage, others significantly exceeded the national average. Varna, Pleven, Targovishte, and Yambol all recorded over 900 packs per 1,000 people. The highest consumption rates were observed in Sofia-region (1,473/1,000) and Razgrad (1,456/1,000).

Medical experts, including Dr. Dragomir Ivanov, have expressed concern that these deviations may indicate improper antibiotic use. There is also a noted issue regarding the types of antibiotics being prescribed. According to World Health Organization guidelines, antibiotics are categorized into Access, Watch, and Reserve groups. Experts emphasize the importance of prioritizing narrow-spectrum antibiotics from the Access group to mitigate the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).