The deficit of 270 million leva that the NHIF expects at the end of the year is because we are financing all necessary healthcare activities with money that should be at least 1/3 more. This was stated by the Deputy Chairman of the Bulgarian Medical Association, Dr. Ivan Madzharov, in the program “Bulgaria, Europe and the World in Focus” on Radio” Focus”.
If there is no update to the NHIF budget, hospitals may become unable to receive payment for services rendered. “We warned about this danger back when we decided in spring to sign the annex related to the current budget. Even then we drew society’s attention to the fact that the money would not be enough. I don’t have a solution, this is in the hands of the members of parliament,” stated Dr. Madzharov.
The looming deficit is large and will lead to hospitals going into debt, he warned. “It’s logical to expect that hospitals will become unable to pay salaries, purchase medications, and cover their expenses. Those that cannot sustain themselves will go bankrupt and will be unable to fulfill their healing function. If it’s a hospital that is the only one in the region or municipality, this will be difficult for the residents of that municipality and region,” explained the Deputy Chairman of the BMA.
According to him, an even larger deficit of funds for medications dispensed through the NHIF is emerging. “But there the problem is invisible, because this year they will return a certain amount, but for next year we will need to ensure budget growth for both medications and hospitals,” Dr. Madzharov clarified.
The Ministry of Health has continuously increased the package of activities that must be paid by the NHIF over the years. “The Fund is an executor of laws – both the Budget Law and Ordinance 9, and ultimately at some point it turns out that the money is not enough,” explained Dr. Ivan Madzharov.
In most European countries, the health insurance contribution varies between 11 and 14%. In Bulgaria it is 8%. “The solution is less populism and more honest discussions between society and those responsible for healthcare policy. The situation has reached a critical point. The salaries that medical professionals, doctors, and everyone employed in the sector should receive have fallen drastically behind. They cannot be formed in any other way except through money allocated for healthcare,” he noted.
Dr. Ivan Madzharov added that certain units in the health system need to be restructured. “We call too many buildings” hospitals”, but they have long exhausted their purpose. They should transition to the sphere of continuing medical treatment, not acute medicine. But even if this happens, additional funds will be needed, because convalescent care activities also need to be financed,” he stated.
