Healthcare Committee

Mission

One of the main goals of the Healthcare Committee is to contribute to solving the healthcare sector’s issues by utilizing the experience, potential, and expertise of its members. AmCham believes that there is a need of transparent and predictable regulatory environment in the healthcare sector, as well as a multi-stakeholder approach to healthcare. Last but not least, AmCham Bulgaria aims at a close cooperation with AmCham EU and other counterpart organizations to develop and improve healthcare policies at the EU and national levels.

Leadership

Dr. Boryana Alexieva, M.D., GA & Patient Engagement and Advocacy Lead, Johnson & Johnson Bulgaria – Co-Chair,
Sava Todorov, Policy & Communications Lead, MSD Bulgaria – Co-Chair.

2024 – 2026

Luka Chichov, CEO, Haelan EAD
Boryana Alexieva, M.D., GAPEA Lead, Johnson and Johnson Bulgaria (Jansen)

2023 – 2024

Boryana Alexieva, M.D., GA & PEA Lead, Johnson & Johnson (Jansen Bulgaria)
Luka Chichov, GM CEE, IQVIA

2019 – 2023

Ruslana Toncheva, General Manager, Johnson & Johnson (Jansen Bulgaria)
Konstantinos Papagiannis, General Manager, MSD Bulgaria, and AmCham Bulgaria Board Member

2017 – 2019

Krassimira Chemishanska, General Manager, Amgen Bulgaria, and AmCham Bulgaria President (2017 – 2019).

Committee Activities

December 11, 2020
On December 11th the AmCham Bulgaria, Bulgarian-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Digital Healthcare Innovation Cluster sent their joint position with regard the Strategic development of the Healthcare Sector of the Republic of Bulgaria and with regard the newly adopted of the NHIF 2021 Budget Act on November 24^th, 2020.

Read the full version of the letter in Bulgarian here.

November 10, 2020
On November 10th, 2020 AmCham Bulgaria resent its position and proposals for improvement of the Draft Bill on the 2021 National Healthcare Insurance Fund Budget (NHIF) with a second letter to the Parliament Healthcare and Budget Commissions, to the Deputy PM Tomislav Dontchev, Minister of Health Prof. Kostadin Angelov and Minister of Finance Kiril Ananiev. The position was prepared by the Healthcare Committee and was approved by the Board of Directors. Read the AmCham Bulgaria 2nd Position on the 2021 NHIF Budget (in Bulgarian).

November 5, 2020
On November 5th, 2020 AmCham Bulgaria sent its position and proposals for improvement of the Draft Bill on the 2021 National Healthcare Insurance Fund Budget (NHIF). The position was prepared by the Healthcare Committee and was approved by the Board of Directors. Read the AmCham Bulgaria Position on the Draft Bull of the NHIF 2021 Budget.

October 9, 2020
AmCham HCC Working Groups Kick-off Meeting

October 16, 2020
AmCham HCC Working Group I Meeting

October 20, 2020
AmCham HCC Working Group II Meeting

July 22, 2020
AmCham Position on the Amendments and Supplements Act of the Medical Products for Human Medicine Law.
Read the AmCham Position in Bulgarian.

June 24, 2020
On June 24th, 2020 AmCham Bulgaria Healthcare Committee (HCC) had its consecutive meeting. It was hosted by the both co-chairs Ruslana Toncheva, Janssen and Kostas Papagiannis, MSD Bulgaria.
Highlights:

AmCham HCC Co-Chairs introduction
Current Challenges in Healthcare and Plan ahead presented by Deyan Denev, ARPharM
U.S. Embassy Update – presented by Miguel Hernández, Commercial Attaché, U.S. Embassy Sofia and Milko Minev, Commercial Specialist
Digital Healthcare Update – the Role of AmCham – presented by Pavel Panayotov, Merck Bulgaria and Mira Ganova, CEO, DHI
Presentations and photos of the event summary here.

May 9, 2020
On May 9th, 2020, AmCham Bulgaria filed a statement on the proposed amendments of the Healthcare Law.
In the text the Chamber suggests improvements in four areas:
1. Declaring anti-epidemic situation and emergency
2. Amendments of the Administrative Code – improvement of the notion “single legal action”
3. With regard remote work
4. Social security during unpaid leave and work in reduced work hours
Read the statement in Bulgarian.

October 15, 2019
On October 15^th, 2019 the Healthcare Committee held a meeting on the topics: “Anatomy of the Bulgarian healthcare system; Value of innovation; Investment in healthcare – a cure for demographic problems”.

August 29, 2017

The Healthcare Committee held a meeting to discuss issues related to centralized e-tender and to biologic drugs in specific with the aim to produce a position paper with recommendations on the related topic.

March 30, 2017

The Healthcare Committee gathered to review the healthcare priorities laid out in the AmCham White Paper 2017 and plan supporting activities and events. Members also brainstorm on the concept, format, topics, speakers and expected outcome of an HTA event in partnership with the U.S. Embassy, planned for Q4 2017. More information about the discussed topics is available in the Minutes of Meeting.

May 18, 2016
Topic:

Underlying Challenges of E-Health Adoption in Bulgaria
Presentation and Real-time Demonstration by Ivaylo Dachov, Managing Partner, CheckPoint Cardio

January 14, 2016

AmCham Business Breakfast – The World Bank’s Diagnostic of Health Financing in Bulgaria

May 27, 2015

Topic: New EU Public Procurement Directives and the current draft of the brand new Bulgarian Public Procurement Act