site.btaBulgarian Medical Association Will Sign 2018 National Framework Agreement

Sofia, February 24 (BTA) - The 67th regular Convention of the Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA), held here on Saturday, resolved to sign the 2018 National Framework Agreement with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), the BMA said in a press release. The vote was 229 in favour, 28 against and 7 abstentions.

The BMA succeeded in agreeing on a substantial increase of prices in more than 130 clinical pathways in hospital care for 2018, for which 150 million leva will be allocated. "For the first time in a decade, both the quantity and the prices of off-hospital examinations have been increased. This year's National Framework Agreement prioritizes maternal and child healthcare and birth care. Special attention is paid to socially significant diseases. The purpose of all this is to facilitate work of health sector employees, improve the quality of medical services, and adequately meet patients' needs," BMA President Ventsislav Grozev commented.

In connection with what the BMA sees as unlawful intervention by Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov in the 2018 National Framework Agreement negotiating process, the Convention adopted an official declaration stating that "the health of patients who are treated in the territory of Bulgaria may not be put at risk for fiscal purposes."

On Friday, Goranov called on the BMA to defer the signing of the 2018 National Framework Agreement until the situation with the amounts that the NHIF owes health funds in EU countries is sorted out.

The National Framework Agreement signing ceremony will take place next week, and the BMA hopes that the parameters agreed will be strictly complied with.

The deadline for signing the new Framework Agreement is February 28, and it should enter into force as from April 1.