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Bulgarian Ministry of Health bans mandatory blood donor requirements
The Bulgarian Ministry of Health has clarified that patients and their relatives cannot be required to provide a specific number of blood donors as a prerequisite for hospitalization or surgery. This decision follows reports from the Association of Patients Active in Healthcare (APAZ) regarding medical facilities demanding donor certificates before performing planned operations.
The Ministry emphasized that blood donation in Bulgaria must be based on principles of voluntariness and altruism. It stated that the responsibility for providing blood and blood components belongs to the transfusion hematology system and should not be transferred to patients. Additionally, the Ministry noted there are no regulatory restrictions preventing a hospital from accepting donor certificates issued in different regions or cities.
While the Bulgarian Hospital Association supports the ban on mandatory donor requirements, it has warned that administrative decisions alone will not replenish blood banks. The association highlighted a systemic issue, noting that in 2023, 83% of donations were made by relatives or acquaintances. They called for a sustainable model of regular voluntary donation to ensure sufficient blood supplies for medical procedures.
Entities
Association of Patients Active in Healthcare · Bulgarian Hospital Association · Bulgarian Ministry of Health · Nikolay Valov
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 4 SOURCES] A blood donor certificate cannot be used as a mandatory condition for treatment without a specific regulatory act. www.moreto.net · ruse.news · www.actualno.com · clubz.bg
- [● 3 SOURCES] There is no legal requirement that blood must be donated in a specific city or region for a patient. www.moreto.net · ruse.news · clubz.bg
- [● 4 SOURCES] The responsibility for providing blood and blood components belongs to the transfusion hematology system, not the patient. www.moreto.net · ruse.news · www.actualno.com · clubz.bg
- [● 4 SOURCES] Patients cannot be forced to provide blood donors as a condition for medical treatment. www.moreto.net · ruse.news · www.actualno.com · clubz.bg