[size=55:1pi2xxbd]novinite 22 December 2010

Bulgaria Introduces Mandatory Breast, Prostate Cancer Tests

Mandatory tests for breast and prostate cancer are going to be introduced in Bulgaria in 2011, the Health Ministry announced Wednesday.

The medical tests will be free of charge for people who have health insurance and will be covered by the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK).

The tests will be part of the regular prophylactic exam done by the general practitioners.

The test will be mandatory for women between the ages of 50 and 69 and men over the age of 50 and will be done every two years with the goal to prevent the most wide-spread cancers in the country.

Breast and prostate cancers have affected 95 of every 100 000 Bulgarian women and 44 of every Bulgarian 100 000 men, respectively, in 2009.