INTRODUCTION: The number of people with disabilities has grown tremendously for the last 15 years in Bulgaria. Standardized quality of life instruments can be helpful in the development of public policies which target the needs of this population. The quality of life (QoL) paradigm is a challenging perspective for considering, planning and implementing changes within the area of disabilities. Moreover, an interview with a disabled person about her/his subjective health is a human care with a positive impact on the overall well-being of the individual. This paper aims at stimulating a debate on these topics by investigating the "QoL" and "disability" territories. Further, a study on QoL of individuals with disabilities is presented. The objectives of this study are: (1) to measure the QoL of a representative sample of 305 individuals with disabilities, who are patients from a general Territory Expert Medical Commission-TEMC (Territory Expert Medical Commission (popular abbreviation in Bulgarian language-ТЕЛК)) (St. Marina University Hospital, Varna) by using the WHO generic questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF)-26 questions; four-domains structure: Physical health, Psychological health, Social relationships, Environment (2). To define the influence of the four domains on QoL (3). To analyze the relationship between QoL and socio-demographic characteristics (4). To assess the influence of physical pain on QoL. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2011 using a representative sample of the register of a general TEMC (n=305, >18 years old). Respondents were selected through the method of multi-stage random selection. RESULTS: As a result of multiple-regression analyses it was found out that all the domains have influence on QoL but the most influential is the "Environment" domain (0.394), followed by "Physical health" domain (0.354), "Psychological health" domain (0.261) and "Social relationships" domain (0.169). The total multiple regression coefficient-R is 0.984 (R 2 =0.969). The patients who reported higher levels of pain-95.80%-have lower QoL. No relations were found between socio-demographic characteristics of the patients and their QoL. Nowadays, the TEMC mission has to cover not only expert assessment and integration of persons with disabilities into society. The TEMC mission should also involve the improvement of QoL of the people with disabilities. A medico-social approach for handicap-assessment is proposed as a prerequisite for sustainable development of the public health policies concerning people with disabilities.

Rehabilitation training centre and university centre of east medicine at the medical university of varna Резюме: Нарастването на хронично полиморбидно болните пациенти определено се свързва с напредъка на конвенционалната медицина и увеличаване на преживяемостта. Това поставя множество предизвикателства пред традиционните методи на лечение, които несъмнено имат своето място в острите и декомпенсирани стадии на заболяването. Дългият живот с полиморбидно хронично състояние води до инвалидност и ниско качество на живот. Пациентите са принудени да се обърнат и да потърсят други средства, които да спомогнат за връщането им към активен и самостоятелен живот. В лицето на неконвенционалната терапия те намират широк набор от методи за цялостно въздействие върху трите компонента на здравето, при това с незначителни и бързопреходни странични явления. Очакванията на гражданите и обществото в следващите години неизбежно ще бъдат обърнати към неконвенционалните методи на лечение като една възможност за подобряване на холистичното здраве. Българското законодателство задължава някои от неконвенционалните методи на холистичната терапия да се практикуват само от лекари, преминали обучение и придобили правоспособност за тяхното приложение. Изследванията показват, че е необходимо спешно да се преработи наредбата с оглед адаптирането ѝ към последните промени в Закона за здравето, за да се посрещнат потребностите на хронично болните пациенти.

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INTRODUCTION: Bulgarian patients are increasingly looking for Eastern (traditional) medicine (EM) as an addition to their basic treatment. In order to avoid a conflict between the methods of Eastern and Western medicine (WM) in Bulgarian conditions, it is necessary to determine the possibilities for their joint application. AIM: The purpose of the article is to explore and present the opportunities for cooperation between Eastern and Western medicine in Bulgarian conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review and content analysis of bibliographic sources, relevant scientific articles and Bulgarian legislation normative acts were performed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: WM affects the symptom, focuses the treatment on individual organs and systems providing fast results, but the treatment has its side effects. Eastern medicine treats the individual in his entirety, mostly without side effects, cures the root cause, but the results are obtained through a prolonged treatment. Disadvantages of both types of medicine: alternative medicine is unable to deal with diseases that arise in people from the West due to contaminated environment, noise factors, impact of chemical agents, etc.; in WM there are cases of sustained and irreversible health effects caused by iatrogenesis. In recent decades in Europe and around the world, the practicing of EM techniques has been implemented as part of the prophylaxis and as a complementary therapy next to drug treatment. CONCLUSION: Bulgarian legislation regulates the training and practicing of some methods that are part of alternative medicine ("unconventional methods"). The EM methods have their place in the prophylaxis and treatment of the Bulgarian patient. A cooperation between Eastern and Western medicine is possible in Bulgarian conditions.