The Health Ministry will have to pay 100 000 leva in compensation to cancer patient Teodora Zaharieva, the Supreme Court of Cassation ruled on May 20 2008, mediappol.bg reported. The court's decision is final and can not be appealed.

The ministry was sentenced to pay the money by Sofia's Court of Appeals for the fact that it did not provide Zaharieva with life saving medications in 2004/05.

According to the court, Zaharieva needed to take the Zoladex drug every 28 days, something that did not happen in the period November 2003–January1 2004 and March 23-June 10 2004. She was also deprived from a hormonal treatment in January-February 2005.

Goserelin Acetate known for its market name Zoladex is used to treat hormone-sensitive prostate and breast cancers.

This was not the first time the ministry has lost a lawsuit on similar grounds. Another cancer patient, Rositsa Shkodrova, won against the ministry for delaying her treatment. Shkodrova died before hearing the sentence in 2006.