With 2 votes "in favor," zero "against," and 11 "abstentions," the Parliamentary Health Committee rejected the proposed Bill to Amend and Supplement the Public Procurement Act at its first reading. The initiative, submitted by Kostadin Kostadinov and a group of MPs from "Vazrazhdane," failed to garner the necessary support during the session.

The proposals were presented in detail to the committee by Georgi Georgiev from the "Vazrazhdane" parliamentary group. They envisaged the introduction of a new obligation for all individuals and legal entities holding licenses for the import and trade of medicinal products: in cases where more than 50% of their revenue is generated from public resources, they would be required to conduct public procurement procedures.

Minister of Health Katya Ivkova spoke out against the changes, arguing that the scope of the Public Procurement Act should not include importers and wholesalers of medications. According to her, these entities are end-recipients of payments and contractors under signed agreements, rather than institutions that spend public funds by awarding contracts to third parties; therefore, their inclusion is incompatible with the purpose of the law.

The decision on how medicines are procured with public funds directly affects the access to medications for residents in Burgas as well.

During the debate, it became clear that the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) also does not support the submitted bill. However, the Public Procurement Agency expressed principled support for the spirit of the proposals, emphasizing that private healthcare facilities should indeed apply public procurement procedures when operating with public resources.