The outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant make imperative the adoption of telerehabilitation in the Bulgarian health care system

The rapid spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 globally will challenge the accessibility and the delivery of physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) services. Many health care systems throughout the world performed effective reforms such as the transition to telerehabilitation (TR). In Bulgaria, TR is still not regulated by law, and terms such as teleconsultation and tele-education have not yet been introduced. The adoption of TR in the Bulgarian health care system will undoubtedly increase the accessibility to rehabilitation treatment for a larger group of Bulgarian patients with various neurological, cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and oncological conditions and will significantly contribute to the PRM services modernization in Bulgaria.

Automated summary

The rapid spread of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 presents challenges to the delivery of physical and rehabilitation medicine services. Many healthcare systems have adopted tele-rehabilitation to overcome these challenges, but it is not yet regulated in Bulgaria.