European Commissioner for Health Stella Kyriakidou is visiting Bulgaria

The Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakidou, is on a working visit to Bulgaria, the Representation of the European Commission (EC) announced.

In Sofia, Commissioner Kiriakoudu will meet with the Minister of Health, Prof. Hristo Hinkov, with whom they will discuss cooperation on a number of priority issues from the European Health Union, including the European Plan to Fight Cancer and the EU’s comprehensive approach to mental health. Her program also includes a meeting with representatives of non-governmental organizations that work in the field of fighting cancer.

From 10:30 a.m. at the Ministry of Health, Commissioner Kiriakidou and Minister Hinkov will make statements to the media.

During his visit, Commissioner Kyriakidou will also hold a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Food, Kiril Vatev, to discuss key priorities, including the EU’s “Farm to Fork” strategy.

BTA recalls that data were presented at a conference in Bilbao last month, according to which nearly 36 million Europeans, or about 8 percent of the EU population, suffer from rare diseases. There are over seven thousand rare diseases, and about 80% of them are genetic. At the forum organized by the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), European Commissioner Stella Kyriakidou also made a speech. She said that the European Health Union has an obligation to support people with rare diseases and their families. “Our efforts will continue to change the situation of all those in need,” she said categorically.