Bulgarian Doctor Day

The day of St. Joan Rilksi – October 19, is celebrated as the Day of the Bulgarian Doctor. The Bulgarian Medical Association was established in 1901. It is the second oldest medical association in Europe after the British Medical Association. Starting from the very beginning the Association had a key role in the healthcare development and the medical policy, as there was no Ministry of Health at that period. It was the medical practice licensing body and defined payment criteria. Membership was obligatory. In 1947 the Bulgarian Medical Association ceased its existence because of merger with the trade union of the medical workers in Bulgaria. In 1990, the Association was restored by a group of Bulgarian doctors.