„Vazrazhdane“ submits a bill for Bulgaria’s withdrawal from the WHO

The „Vazrazhdane“ political party announced its intention to introduce a bill for Bulgaria’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). According to them, membership in the organization brings significant financial and economic losses to the country, citing expenses for vaccines, strict restrictive measures during the pandemic, and insufficient autonomy in national health policy.

Financial losses for Bulgaria

According to „Vazrazhdane“, the country spent over BGN 145 million on COVID-19 vaccines, which were later discarded due to expiration. They described this expenditure as „a crime against the Bulgarian citizens“ in the context of the budget deficit. Furthermore, the party emphasized that Bulgaria has still not received the promised BGN 10 billion from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which they believe has contributed to the economic difficulties.

Criticism of the WHO policy

The „Vazrazhdane“ bill also includes criticism of the way the World Health Organization makes decisions. According to them, the recommended measures against the pandemic have caused serious economic damage to Bulgaria and the European Union, led to the bankruptcy of thousands of businesses, and placed unprecedented pressure on the healthcare system. Moreover, the party claims that the WHO lobbies in favor of large pharmaceutical companies and limits the ability of national institutions to make independent decisions regarding the implementation of medicines and therapies.

Political and Administrative Consequences

Another key reason for the proposal is the „dilution of the role of national health ministries“. „Vazrazhdane“ argues that the WHO imposes mandatory policies without prior impact assessments on national budgets, while simultaneously releasing pharmaceutical companies from liability for any potential harm caused by vaccines.

Call for withdrawal from the WHO

According to „Vazrazhdane,“ Bulgaria should follow the example of countries like the United States, which temporarily withdrew from the WHO during Donald Trump’s administration. They argue that the organization is now „compromised“ and no longer brings benefits to the country. The draft resolution submitted to the National Assembly requires the Council of Ministers to begin the process of terminating Bulgaria’s participation in the WHO agreement. A debate on the issue is expected to take place in Parliament in the coming days.

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