Bulgaria GPs Strike over Delayed Funds, Health Reforms

Bulgaria's National Association of General Practitioners reported on Saturday that they are losing patience with constantly delayed funding and reforms. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

General Practitioners from Kyustendil, Dupnitsa and Razgrad have gone on strike Monday over unpaid funds and the Bulgarian government’s health reform plans.

GPs from Sofia, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo and Shumen are set to join the strike on Tuesday, with reports that Varna GPs may also leave their doctor’s cabinets for the day.

Bulgaria's National Association of General Practitioners reported on Saturday that they are losing patience with constantly delayed funding and reforms.

The Association addressed an open letter to all Bulgarian institutions and citizens with health insurance, in which they state that "the cup of patience is down to the last dregs".

They firmly stated that they do not want to constantly appeal to someone to receive the necessary treatment for patients and remuneration for their work as doctors.

The GPs further claim that, for the fourth month in a row, their association has been waiting for answers to questions they have raised about delayed payments from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and revisions to the Ordinance on Prophylactics.

The consequence of these delays is that Bulgarians over 18 will be denied comprehensive and operating screening for socially significant diseases, the medics claim.

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