Bulgarian Citizens Cover 46% of Health Expenses

Bulgarian citizens cover out of their pockets 46% of the expenses for healthcare, shows a survey of the KNSB trade union, quoted by Sega daily. 

The remaining 54% are covered by public spending. 

According to the survey, this is a precedent for the EU. For comparison, in Croatia citizens cover 84.9%, in Hungary – 69.4% and in Slovakia – 65.9%. 

The KNSB analysis shows that since 2007 the number of private hospitals in Bulgaria has grown by 50% - from 71 to 108, but they are not corresponding to demand. “The state does not actively support the sufficient funding of the public healthcare and at the same time supports the establishing of private hospitals,” said the analysis. “They are also funded by public healthcare funds, but often do not correspond to the actual needs.”

The KNSB study found that since 2010 the number of Bulgarian citizens who have been in hospital and the hospital expenses are increasing rapidly. In 2010  were hospitalised 1.7 M Bulgarian citizens and the care cost nearly BGN 1.1 B. By the end of 2014 the number of hospitalised patients will surpass 2 M and the care will cost BGN 1.4 B. 

The analysis also outlines the decreasing number of specialised medics and healthcare professionals in Bulgaria. Even though the total number of doctors in Bulgaria is above the average for EU – 386 medics per 100 000 residents, the number of specialists is low.

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