Cancer sufferers in Bulgaria, in need of urgent chemotherapy, are often forced to wait for weeks and even months due to shortage of experts and equipment, doctors have alerted.

"We have no choice but to make waiting lists for patients because Bulgaria suffers from a chronic shortage of oncology experts – no more than 100 for all oncology units in the country," leading oncologist Konstanta Timcheva said at an event that set up the Bulgarian Association for Medical Oncology.

The new body will gather together Bulgaria's top oncology experts from all universities and specialized hospitals across the country.

More than 6200 Bulgarians every year undergo chemotherapy treatment after being diagnosed with cancer.

Bulgarian cancer sufferers and their families often feel abandoned in their struggle to cope with the illness, both in terms of treatment and emotional support.

Unlike other European countries, whose health care systems do their best to fund extra services to support these people and their relatives through the darkest of times, those who have been diagnosed with cancer in Bulgaria face a chronic shortage of life-saving medicines.

Not to mention the lack of support they need to cope with the emotional turmoil of the illness, which is of crucial important when the cancer patients are children.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!