EU Screening Week: The first EU Screening Week (28 Sep–4 Oct) is pushing “Know Your Numbers” with checks for blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar to cut cardiovascular deaths across Europe. Healthcare Access: Bulgaria’s Ombudsman warns patient rights and access are still uneven, citing shortages, medicines gaps, remote-area barriers and high out-of-pocket costs. Public Health Costs: A Trend survey shows Bulgarians’ top healthcare worries are extra payments, lack of doctors and insufficient NHIF coverage; 53% say they’ve paid more for care. Local Welfare: The Ombudsman urges heating aid to be paid upfront in one installment for all eligible households to help people buy fuel early. Medical Oversight: The director of Bulgaria’s Medical Supervision Executive Agency, Ivanka Dineva, was relieved of her post for personal reasons. Cardio Burden in Bulgaria: Eurostat data highlights cardiovascular disease as a major killer, with all Bulgarian regions among the highest shares of deaths. Cancer Outcomes: Experts say Balkan cancer deaths stay high due to late diagnosis and system gaps in primary care and diagnostics. Wellness Nutrition: A look at polyphenols and the gut-brain axis points to plant compounds in foods like tea, cocoa and grapes. Animal Welfare: A new care centre in Plovdiv offers hope for stray animals, relying on volunteers and humane trapping when needed. Demographics: A World Bank report flags Bulgaria’s population decline and notes health and education improvements alongside demographic pressure.