03/10/2026
Kristian Vigenin held a frank conversation with students from Yambol and Aytos about the future of Europe and Bulgaria
29/10/2025
Vigenin in Gotse Delchev: BSP should stand by its ideas in government and place its people locally
31/10/2025Kristian Vigenin held a frank conversation with students from Yambol and Aytos about the future of Europe and Bulgaria
29/10/2025Vigenin in Gotse Delchev: BSP should stand by its ideas in government and place its people locally
31/10/2025
Vigenin to pharmacists: The EU goal is to overcome the shortage of medicines
“Pharmaceutical care is no longer simply a matter of dispensing medication. It is an essential element of public health, of the trust between patient and specialist, of access to services and of the quality of life in every community.” This was stated by Bulgarian MEP from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament Kristian Vigenin at the opening of the conference “Beyond healthcare, in the era of modern pharmaceutical care and distribution”, organised by the Bulgarian Association of Wholesale and Retail Traders in Medicines. Representatives of associations and companies from the sector took part in the forum. He noted that Europe has long seen healthcare as a commitment to human dignity and a quality life for everyone. “Our goal as European legislators is to guarantee that every citizen, whether they live in the centre of Brussels or in a small Bulgarian village, will have access to quality medicines, competent advice and timely help,” Vigenin emphasised.
The MEP said with regret that the reality in Bulgaria remains worrying, with more than 30 municipalities still without a pharmacy and dozens of others having only one. “This is not just statistics, these are people, elderly and ill, who travel tens of kilometres for the most essential medicines. That is exactly why we have to think beyond the boundaries of static healthcare, through solutions such as mobile pharmacies, which have already proved their effectiveness in a number of European countries,” he added.
Kristian Vigenin pointed out that the European Union is taking a decisive step towards modernising the sector with the new pharmaceutical package, which is in fact the biggest reform in the field in 20 years: “It aims to guarantee that medicines in the EU will be more accessible, cheaper and more sustainable, while at the same time encouraging innovation and reducing the administrative burden. The legislation should allow more flexible mechanisms for authorising and distributing medicines, better transparency in supply and stronger control over shortages.” The MEP also noted that the Critical Medicines Act, proposed this year by the European Commission, will create a strategic framework for preventing shortages of vital medication, by building reserves, diversified supplies and coordinated European production. “This is a direct investment in the safety of European patients and in the resilience of our health systems. Our task, as legislators and as a society, is to translate these European policies into real solutions at home. To build a regulatory environment that encourages innovation, guarantees safety and puts the patient at the centre of the system,” he commented.
In conclusion, Vigenin addressed the audience with the words: “You, the pharmacists, are not just distributors of medicines. You are advisers, guardians of public health and partners in caring for people. Modern pharmaceutical care has to be recognised, valued and supported, because it is precisely the bridge between science, policy and people. It has to become a bridge on which every person will have equal access to medicines, care and trust.”
