site.btaGambling Addiction Prevention, Treatment and Therapy Fund Established

A fund for the prevention, treatment and therapy of gambling addiction has been established, said caretaker Health Minister Michail Okoliyski during a joint briefing at the Council of Ministers here on Tuesday with caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov and snowboard athletes Tervel Zamfirov and Malena Zamfirova. 

Okoliyski stated that one of the key priorities upon taking office at the Ministry of Health had been to identify effective ways to combat gambling addiction, noting that it deprives tens of thousands of Bulgarian families of opportunities for education, healthcare, and prosperity. He explained that the creation of the fund also introduces application procedures, and that various bodies, including regional health inspectorates, hospitals, and others, will soon be able to apply for funding for initiatives addressing gambling addiction. 

He also noted that the government closely followed the recovery of Malena Zamfirova after the accident she suffered. The two athletes were invited to become ambassadors for efforts to improve public health, particularly in combating gambling addiction, with the support of their father, Anatoliy Zamfirov. 

The Health Minister expressed hope that future governments would continue this policy upholding the Bulgarian citizens’ interests in public health, and that society would soon achieve greater awareness of the risks associated with gambling.