November 4, 2009



MPs from all parliamentary groups expressed their willingness to work together with experts and NGO representatives to form positions and seek solutions in the field of the socially significant diseases. The creation of a group of MPs, united around a "Parliamentary consensus on combating the socially significant diseases" in the 41 st National Assembly was announced to the media on November 4, 2009 , by the co-chairs of the group Dr. Lachezar Ivanov and Dr. Vanyo Sharkov.

The priority targets will be cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, AIDS and tuberculosis. National Assembly Chair Tsetska Tsacheva has agreed the future initiatives of the group to be held under her auspices.

The first initiative will be related to the European Week Against Cervical Cancer, 24-30 January 2010, said Dr. Lachezar Ivanov. The National Assembly will hold a round table with representatives of the responsible institutions, leading medical experts, professional health, nongovernmental and patient organizations. The forum will present data on the disease spread and morbidity rates in Bulgaria and will discuss the best ways of coping with the disease, known in the member countries of the European Union, noted Dr. Lachezar Ivanov.

The Consensus Group includes the following parliamentary members: Ms. Iskra Fidosova, Ms Mandy Stoyanova, Dr. Plamen Tsekov, Dr. Stanka Shaylekova, Mr. Stoyan Mavrodiev, Mr. Dimitar Chukarski, Mr Martin Dimitrov, Dr. Tzvetan Kostov, Ms. Emilia Maslarova, Dr. Evgenii Zhelev, Dr. Nigyar Sahlim-Djafer, Dr. Hassan Ademov, Ms. Biserka Petrova and Ms.Tsveta Georgieva.

Dr Lachezar Ivanov recalled that the first parliamentary Consensus Group against the socially significant diseases was founded in December 2007 by eighteen MPs in the 40th National Assembly, who were representing all parliamentary and political forces. He stressed that both he and Dr. Vanyo Sharkov were members of the group in the previous parliament and pointed out that its positive activities and traditions should be maintained and further developed in the interests of the Bulgarian society. Dr Lachezar Ivanov added that this made him, as the present Vice-Chairman of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Committee on Health to take the initiative and propose in a letter, dated September 16, 2009, to the President of the National Assembly to form in the 41st National Assembly a Consensus Group with the purpose to fight the socially significant diseases in the country.