The MPs adopted the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund

The MPs on November 24 conclusively adopted the Law on the Budget of the National Health Insurance Fund for the next year. Between the two readings of the bill, MPs increased the budget of the health fund.

It increases by over BGN 600 million and will exceed BGN 5.34 billion. The money for hospitals will increase by almost BGN 383 million and will reach BGN 2.645 billion.

The funds for medicines are BGN 1.332 billion - by BGN 88 million more than this year. 115.98 million are provided for medical devices used in hospital care - under this item the set increase is about 6 millionBGN.

Over BGN 261 million are provided for GPs. The increase is about BGN 17 million.

The budget of the Health Insurance Fund includes changes that provide for health care professionals to enter into contracts with the fund. For this purpose, BGN 20 million are envisaged in the budget for next year. The reserve for contingencies is envisaged to be BGN 149,561 million.

The budget was not defended by the ruling party, but was criticized by the opposition.

"This is the so-called fragmentation of the budget of the Health Insurance Fund. You are making a budget as if the crisis is over, especially in the area of health care, it will not end. We currently use virtually no other funding. The problems will not be solved and an urgent update of the budget of the Health Insurance Fund will be made next year ", commented Georgi Mihailov from the opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

"Against the background of the severe crisis we are in, from time to time there are calls for dialogue, for reason. Guided by these calls, the opposition allows itself to make proposals. When we discussed the NHIF budget at first reading, we made proposals, unfortunately, ladies and gentlemen from the government, none of these proposals have been accepted. We are proposing an increase in the money for medical diagnostic activities, because Bulgarians should have the opportunity to be examined," said Nigar Jaffer from the MRF.

According to her, there is currently no buffer in the budget of the health insurance fund.

Budget parameters

Revenues and transfers 5, 341 billion

Expenditures BGN 5.341 billion

Hospital care BGN 2.64 billion

Primary outpatient care BGN 266.7 million

Dental care BGN 197.3 million

Medicinal products and medical devices BGN 1.33 billion

The MPs also adopted additional pay to the salaries of the medical staff during the state of emergency.

Every month, doctors will receive BGN 600, health care specialists - BGN 360 and health care assistants - BGN 120. No additional remuneration will be paid to physicians whose gross salaries are over BGN 5,000.