Prof. Asena Serbezova, PhD, DSc

Biography:

Prof. Asena Serbezova graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Sofia Medical University and completed her dissertation in the fields of social medicine and healthcare organization and pharmacy. She holds a Doctorate in Medical Sciences specializing in social medicine and healthcare organization and pharmacy. Additionally, she has a Master's degree in Health Management and Public Health from the Faculty of Public Health at Medical University-Sofia, a Master's in Health Policy and Pharmacoeconomics from the Barcelona School of Management, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Spain, and a Master's in Psychology from Veliko Tarnovo University. She possesses three recognized specialties: organization and economics of pharmacy and distribution practice, organization and economics of pharmaceutical production, and clinical pharmacy. She served as the Chair of the Quality Commission of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union from 2007 to 2010 and as Vice-Chair from 2010 to 2013. She was a member of the National Council on Pricing and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products from 2013 to 2014. From July 2014 to August 2018, she was the Executive Director of the Bulgarian Drug Agency under the Ministry of Health and a a member of the Management Board of the European Medicines Agency. A member of the Scientific Committee for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) at the European Medicines Agency. She served as the Chair of the Board of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union from February 2020 to December 13, 2020. Minister of Health in the 99th government of Bulgaria. 

She is the lead researcher on projects funded by GRANT-2014 and GRANT-2012 at the Medical University of Sofia, supported by the Council of Medical Science, and has participated in research teams for seven projects funded by GRANT-2016, GRANT-2015, GRANT-2014, GRANT-2012, and GRANT-2011. Additionally, prof.Serbezova has been involved in two projects financed by the Scientific Research Fund of the Ministry of Education and Science.

Awarded the title of "Pharmacist of the Year" by the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union in 2011, and received the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Society Award for contributions to the development of pharmacy in Bulgaria in 2008.

Publications and scientific interests: 

Prof. Serbezova authored and co-authored over 160 publications in areas such as pharmaceutical policy, healthcare quality management, drug utilization, and health technology assessment. She serves on the editorial boards of journals including “Health Policy and Management”, “Hospital Pharmacy”, and “Biotechnology & Biotechnological Equipment” published by Taylor & Francis. Her work has garnered more than 700 citations both domestically and internationally. 

Membership in organizations: 

Member of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union and the Bulgarian Scientific Society of Pharmacy.