Medical ethics in Bulgaria: Status and priorities

Discussing the range and quality of health care and the position of medical ethics in Bulgaria, the authoress underlines the process of radical social realignment which can be observed in the circumstances of transition of Bulgarian society along the following two lines: a) in the change of the governments health insurance policy and b) in the emergence of new models of health care based on the renewal of private practice. The society's global health problems that have been brought about by a decline of the population's demographic status, an increase in chronic and degenerative illnesses, migration, poverty, environmental pollution etc., are not being adequately dealth with by the health policy. However, the self-awareness of individuals strengthened by democratization has initiated resistance and demands a change of situation. Within this context, the importance of medical ethics is growing, and should be, according to the authoress, given much greater attention by health workers.