Fertility Europe was alerted by the member association Zachatie from Bulgaria that Regulation No.28/20.07.2007 of the Ministry of Health on the activities in the field of Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) got revoked, which results in leaving Bulgarian infertility patients deprived of its protection and guarantee of the medical service quality.
As the representative of infertility patients in Europe, Fertility Europe is expressing a strong concern at this decision.
After the repeal of Regulation No. 28, currently there is no other legal act for regulation of the activities in the field of MAR in Bulgaria.
We are fully supporting our Member Association “Zachatie” in calling Bulgarian Ministry of Health and the Association of Bulgarian Medical Infertility Specialists to take urgent action and issue a statement on this matter and to take the necessary measures for an adequate legal solution, ensuring and protecting the reproductive rights of Bulgarian citizens.
Full letter of “Zachatie” translated below:
DEAR MINISTER,
Association “Zachatie” – the organization of Bulgarian patients with reproductive problems – expresses strong concern in connection with the repeal of Regulation No.28/20.07.2007 of the Ministry of Health on the activities in the field of Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR), carried out by Decision No.4655 as of 21.04.2020 under Adm.No.7771/2019 of the Supreme Administrative Court, published in the State Gazette issue No.93 as of 30.10.2020, in force since 30.10.2020.
After the repeal of Regulation No. 28, currently there is no other legal act for regulation of the activities in the field of MAR in Bulgaria. This poses a very serious risk for tens of thousands of Bulgarian patients in need of treatment via assisted reproduction. They are deprived of the protection and guaranteed quality of medical services, provided by the medical standard in the Regulation. The lack of legal framework for MAR activities contradicts the requirements of the Directive 2004/23/EC and Directive 2006/86/EC and opens the door for legal arbitrariness in the field of MAR in Bulgaria.
We urge the Ministry of Health and the Association of Bulgarian Medical Infertility Specialists to issue a statement on this matter and to take the necessary measures for an adequate legal solution, protecting the reproductive rights of Bulgarian citizens.
Respectfully,
STEFKA SARAFOVA
Chairman of the Board of the Association “Conception”