Bulgaria Ups National Health Insurance Fund Budget

Bulgaria's PM Borisov is outraged the country's doctors and dentists are continuing their strike despite the transfer of BGN 25 M to them. Photo by BGNES

The 2010 budget of Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) will be increased by BGN 300 M, the Fund's Monitoring Board informs.

The decision was made late Monday night while the additional resources will be provided by the increased health insurance contributions – from 8% to 10%.

The amendments will be included in the Act for the NZOK Budget which, as expected, will be passed by the end of March and will become effective April 1.

Also on Monday, Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, ordered to increase the said budget by BGN 350 M from the Central Bank's (BNB) reserve of BGN 800 M. The reserve is, however, part of the State's consolidated budget, and in order to avoid deficit the mandatory insurance contribution are going up by 2% now instead of 2011 as the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party previously planned.

Another earlier idea was to use the additional amount from the increased insurance contributions to include private health funds in the insurance system. The Health Ministry informs this reform is not delayed despite the different allocation of the insurance funds, and promises to make clear by mid-year how exactly the new health insurance model, to become effective in 2011, will function.

Meanwhile, Borisov announced the BGN 25 M have been transferred to the Bulgarian general practitioners and the dentists, adding it is outrageous they are continuing their strike despite the transfer. GPs across Bulgaria went on strike Monday.

The PM says the current probes in the quality of medical services are going to continue.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!