Bulgaria's Healthcare Ministry had earmarked 120 million leva in its 2008 budget for cancer patients, Healthcare Minister Gaidarski said on December 17.

The amount was an increase of 30 million leva, or 30 per cent, compared to 2007, Bulgarian National Radio (BNR) said.

Gaidarski made his announcement at the conference Developments in Radiotherapy at the Specialised Hospital for Cancer Treatment (SHCT) in Sofia.

Gaidarski said that for the first time in many years, the ministry had earmarked funds for the purchase of diagnostic equipment. Forty million leva would be utilised for intensive wards throughout the country.

New magnetic resonance (MRI) scanners would have to be bought for hospitals, he said.

Gaidarski inspected the new radiotherapy equipment at the SHCT. Peranka Troyanova, managing director of SHCT, said the new system would raise healthcare standards at the hospital.

SHCT treated 2 500 patient annually, Troyanova said.