Since January 2025, the Bulgarian Breast Cancer Association (BBCA) has had a Patient Board.

The Patient Board has a number of important functions, with its main goal being to ensure that the voice and experience of patients is at the heart of the organization’s activities. Here are some of the main activities of the patient board:

• Patient representation: Board members represent the interests and needs of patients. They provide feedback and guidance from the patient’s perspective.
• Consultation and advice: The patient board provides consultation and advice to the board of directors and the BBCA team on various issues related to patients’ lives, access to treatment, quality of care, and more.
• Participation in decision-making: Board members can actively participate in decision-making regarding the NGO’s strategies, programs, and activities, ensuring that they are in line with patients’ needs.
• Raising awareness: The patient board can participate in campaigns to raise awareness about the disease or condition, as well as the problems faced by patients.
• Advocacy: Board members can advocate for patients’ rights with health authorities, institutions, and other stakeholders.
• Support and guidance for other patients: The board can play a role in supporting and guiding other patients by sharing experiences and information.
• Participation in research projects: In some cases, the patient board may participate in consulting on research projects to ensure that they are relevant to patients’ needs.
• Evaluation of NGO activities: The patient board may participate in evaluating the effectiveness of NGO programs and activities from the patients’ perspective.
• The BBCA supports patients and assists in the training of patient advocates and their participation in Bulgarian and international forums and training courses related to the disease and advocacy as an activity.