Sofia, December 7-8 2016
On Dec 7 and 8 in Sofia the Tenth National meeting of the National Network of Health Mediators (NNHM) took place. More than 150 people gathered and discussed successes, difficulties and development perspectives of the Network. A strategic plan of the organization for 2016-2020 was adopted. BFPA and NNHM are key partners in field work projects like “Mission possible” as well as in improving the access of vulnerable groups to health services and modern contraception.
The next day NNHM representatives and also Dr Rada Stamenkova and Venci Kirkov from the BFPA team attended a Health Commission Round table at the Parliament.
The event was officially opened by Dr. Daniela Daritkova, Chairman of the Health commission at the National Assembly. In the meeting also participated Dr. Angel Kunchev, Chief State Health inspector for Bulgaria, Ivanka Krusteva – Sub-governor of the National Health Insurance Fund, Denica Savcheva, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of labour and Social Policy, Ana-Maria Vilamovska – Presidential Secretary on Innovational and Health Policy, Dr. Stoyan Borisov – Chief Secretary of the Bulgarian Doctor’s Union Prof. Ivailo Turnev from “Aleksandrovska” hospital along with many others. The main topic of discussion at the meeting was the development of the health mediator program in Bulgaria. In 2016 in the country there are 195 mediators on appointed budgets in 113 municipalities. The perspective is in 2017 25 more mediators to undergo training. The Parliament meeting helped adopt two important documents by the MoH and the National Alliance of Municipalities – Working professional guidelines for the health mediators and Standardized Reporting Form for health mediators.