1. UNDERSTANDING THE SITUTATION OF HEALTH CARE IN EASTERN EUROPE, ESPECIALLY IN THE FIELDS OF GIST Mr. Stefan Mandov – GIST Alliance for patients Bulgaria www.gist-bg.com

2. GIST Alliance for Patients Bulgaria Website: www.gist-bg.com Cancer treatment is a National priority Cancer patients have some social and financial benefits. Cancer therapy is reimbursed at 100%. Treatment - covered by The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Cancer treatment - 13 Regional oncologic centres and National Oncologic Hospital inSofia. SPAEN Conference 2012 22 - November 22-24 2012, Florence

3. Orphan drugs – limited access caused by long administrative procedures and limited information. GIST cases – since 2007 the disease has become well known. GIST Alliance for Patients Bulgaria SPAEN Conference 2012 22 - November 22-24 2012, Florence

4. GIST Alliance for Patients Bulgaria What are the major problems in GIST treatment : The lack of information; The lack of reference pathology laboratory to determine the diagnosis; The lack of multidisciplinary team specialized in GIST treatment; The reimbursement process takes a lot of time; No compassionate and off-label use of drugs; No clinical trials. SPAEN Conference 2012 22 - November 22-24 2012, Florence * GIST Alliance for patients Bulgaria

5. GIST Alliance for Patients Bulgaria Who are we? Founded – January 2012 President – Mrs. Juliana Popova, Board members and coordinators – Mr. Stefan Mandov and Mrs. Adelina Mihajlova. Today Associations – 14 registered members Medical Consultant – Rossitza Krasteva MD Thank you very much! What have we done? April 2012 - Member of SPAEN May 2012 - Member of ECPC July 2012 - leaflets with useful information June 2012 - National meeting of GIST patients in Bulgaria October 2012 - psychological support SPAEN Conference 2012 22 - November 22-24 2012, Florence