Key words: EUROCHIP, cervical can-

Background. In Bulgaria the previously (1970-1985) existing population based cervi-cal cancer screening was replaced in the early 1990s with an opportunistic model due to political and socioeconomic reasons. As a result, in the last 20 years, cervical can-cer incidence and mortality rates steady increased. The objective of the EUROCHIP project in Bulgaria was to evaluate the readiness of the health system as well as health providers ’ attitudes to implementation in the country of a population based screen-ing program for cervical cancer. Methods. Using a structured questionnaire, a convenience sample of medical spe-cialists representing different actors involved in cervical cancer prevention, treat-ment, financing and policy were interviewed. Results. The majority of interviewed practitioners worried that organization and im-plementation of an effective population-based cervical cancer screening program is not possible in the current unstable health system. A nostalgic attitude to the cervical cancer screening, performed in the past and pessimistic view on the capability of th