Child Safety & Digital Risks: A new UN-backed conference in Athens (Oct 5–6) will focus on how to redesign child protection for threats like grooming, image-based abuse, deepfakes and AI-generated sexual material. Vaccination Watch: A Lancet Regional Health–Europe study reports childhood vaccination rates across the EU have stalled or fallen since COVID-19, with declines in 16 countries including Bulgaria, raising risks to herd and individual immunity. Chronic Disease Prevention: Bulgaria’s 2026–2030 National Programme for chronic non-communicable diseases targets 1–5% lower mortality for major conditions and a 5% drop in key risk factors (smoking, alcohol, low activity, overweight/obesity). Healthcare Procurement Reform: The Health Committee approved first-reading changes to extend public procurement rules to private hospitals, aiming for more transparency and equal treatment when public funds are used. EU Funds Delivery: Deputy PM Atanas Pekanov says Bulgaria expects most Recovery and Resilience Plan funds, with the next payment (EUR 1.8B) tied to 59 milestones. Food Safety & Traceability: Bulgaria’s Food Safety Agency flagged 311 “virtual” cattle in VetIS in Momchilgrad, ordering follow-up actions and stressing accurate traceability to prevent disease spread. Public Health Policy Context: EU tobacco excise plans are criticized as over-centralizing decisions in Brussels—an issue that can affect health policy and nicotine products. Child Health & Tech Debate: Scientists are calling for stronger protections for children from wireless radiation, arguing kids absorb more and may face harms from heavy screen use. International Health Access: President Iliana Iotova raised the case of Iva Mihaylova with the Council of Europe, urging medical access in Bulgaria despite legal proceedings in North Macedonia.