A few years ago, two committees of the National Assembly rejected the proposed health budget for next year. Despite the additional revenues of more than BGN 1 billion, the main criticism was directed at the lack of proposed reform, the high co-payments by patients, the bankruptcy of available medicines and their prices.
Health Economist Arkadi Sharkov commented that the budget is well balanced in terms of the distribution of funds in different areas, pointing out that the best supported area is outpatient care, which represents a larger percentage of the total budget compared to previous years.
Sharkov emphasized the risks in the receipt of money from workers and those without health insurance, stressing that these uncertainties are related to the macro situation. He shared his concern about the possible difficulties in the allocation of the budget in the health fund and expressed the need for a clear political direction for spending the funds.
The health economist also commented on the possible changes in patient co-payments, noting that much depends on the medical institution and that a mechanism for quick decision-making is needed. He also highlighted the importance of a clear political direction for spending the funds and shared his concerns about citizens’ access to medicines after active treatment.
„It largely depends on the medical facility. It is a matter of judgment. It is a problem that the NHIF remains without a manager. It becomes a bottleneck, especially in terms of payment. In very short order, a mechanism will have to be devised by which the governor and deputy governor will be heard first, and a new governor will also be heard at the same time.“
Sharkov noted that the problem with the availability of medicines is not limited to Bulgaria, but is inherent throughout Europe, pointing to the price as one of the factors. He stressed the need for regulation to manage product prices and prevent manufacturers from withdrawing them from the market.
