DIGI Stories - Bulgaria

DIGI4Care Pilots in Bulgaria Demonstrate the Potential of Digital Health Innovation

As part of the European DIGI4Care project, DHI Cluster Bulgaria implemented the first Bulgarian pilot projects aimed at transforming the care pathway for patients living with chronic diseases through digital health innovation.

The project brings together 11 partners from 8 European countries with a shared mission: to improve prevention, screening, and early diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes through modern digital healthcare solutions.

The Bulgarian pilot activities focused on prevention, screening, diagnosis, and long-term monitoring of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, and related comorbidities. Implemented in real clinical environments together with general practitioners and cardiovascular specialists, the initiatives explored how digital technologies can support earlier detection, improve patient monitoring, and strengthen continuity of care.

Several innovative solutions were introduced during the pilots, including:

• a mobile telemedicine station enabling comprehensive cardiovascular screening within minutes,

• AI-supported 24-hour telemonitoring for patients identified as high-risk,

• digital retinal screening for diabetic retinopathy,

• remote patient monitoring through connected wearable devices,

• and thermographic diagnostics supporting early detection of peripheral arterial disease.

The project demonstrates how digital innovation and a dedicated healthcare workforce can work hand in hand to create more connected, accessible, and patient-centered healthcare pathways.

At the heart of the Bulgarian implementation is the collaboration between healthcare professionals, technology providers, and innovation experts. Mira Ganova, CEO of the Digital Health and Innovation Cluster, highlights how DIGI4Care bridges innovation, medical expertise, and everyday clinical practice, creating scalable models that can be replicated in healthcare centers across Bulgaria, including remote and underserved regions.

The implementation also reflects the important role of healthcare professionals in adopting and integrating digital tools into everyday practice. Dr. Vasilev from the XII Diagnostic Consultative Centre shares practical insights from the pilot implementation, while nurses actively participating in the screening processes demonstrate the essential contribution of multidisciplinary healthcare teams in ensuring successful and patient-oriented digital transformation.

The pilots incorporated three core technologies:

• Hubis, supporting structured digital screening and telemedicine-based workflows,

• Aireen, an AI-powered solution for diabetic retinopathy screening,

• Check Point Cardio, enabling advanced cardiac monitoring for early detection of cardiovascular conditions.

Together, these technologies form an integrated digital ecosystem supporting prevention, screening, diagnosis, and long-term monitoring in a seamless and efficient way.

The pilot activities demonstrated that digital solutions can be sustainably integrated into existing healthcare pathways and may help reduce pressure on healthcare systems while improving access to care, especially in vulnerable and underserved regions.

Through DIGI4Care, Bulgarian partners contributed valuable experience and evidence on how digital innovation, artificial intelligence, and telemedicine can support prevention, early diagnosis, and patient-centred chronic disease management across the Danube Region and beyond.

DIGI4Care ultimately presents not only a successful pilot initiative, but also a forward-looking model for the future of healthcare — one where technology supports healthcare professionals, strengthens continuity of care, and brings modern medical services closer to patients wherever they are.

Disover more at the DHI Cluster's website.

Watch the video about pilot activities in Bulgaria through LinkedIn.

Produced by DHI Cluster.