Prinses Máxima Centrum voor kinderoncologie (Princess Máxima Center) shared on LinkedIn:
“Máxima International has signed a new long-term partnership with two hospitals in Bulgaria.
Together with the Tsaritsa Yoanna – ISUL in Sofia and UMHAT Sveti Georgi in Plovdiv we will further strengthen pediatric oncology care in Bulgaria.
The collaboration focuses on improving diagnostics, treatment and nursing care, as well as research and education. Bulgarian Minister of Health Katya Ivkova has expressed her support for establishing a pediatric oncology center of excellence in Sofia.
‘Through this collaboration, we are exchanging our specialist knowledge with colleagues in Bulgaria,’
says prof. dr. Rob Pieters, Chief Máxima International.
‘It is also encouraging to see that the Minister of Health recognizes the importance of establishing a national center of excellence for pediatric oncology in Sofia. We can support our colleagues by sharing our knowledge and experience in this specific domain.’
More about
In Bulgaria, roughly 150 children are diagnosed with cancer each year.
The vast majority of these patients, around 80%, are managed by just two key facilities: Tsaritsa Yoanna – ISUL in Sofia, which treats pediatric patients under 18, and UMHAT Sveti Georgi in Plovdiv, which handles care for individuals up to age 25.
Currently, pediatric cancer care in the region suffers from fragmentation. This new initiative aims to resolve those structural inefficiencies by establishing standardized patient data recording systems, enabling doctors to track long-term health outcomes and continuously evaluate overall treatment efficacy.
The strategy relies heavily on direct, two-way professional exchange between teams. Specialists from Princess Máxima Center will travel to Bulgaria to provide on-site clinical mentoring, while Bulgarian doctors and nurses will visit the Netherlands for intensive clinical training.
Beyond clinical operations, the outreach effort extends to local patient advocacy groups and broader institutional networks across the country. The overarching goal is to upgrade healthcare infrastructure so that every child diagnosed with cancer in Bulgaria receives optimal care with the highest possible quality of life.
For more information, read the news article on our website.”
