site.btaParliament Adopts Health Budget Bill on First Reading

Sofia, November 8 (BTA) - Parliament adopted on first reading the 2018 National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) budget bill on Wednesday. It was supported by 125 of the 213 MPs who were in the plenary and 88 voted against it.

The budget bill needs to pass on second reading to become effective.

The bill has 3,860,000,000 leva in health insurance revenues and transfers from other institutions, which is 407.2 million leva more than in 2017. Revenues from health insurance contributions alone are projected at 3,818,500,000 leva, which is 404.7 million leva more than this year.

Expenditures and transfers are set at 3,860,000,000 leva, which is 407.2 million leva more than in 2017.

Of 3,735,800,000 leva in current expenditures, the largest amount is for health insurance payments (3,662,100,000 leva), which is 630,100,000 leva more than in 2017.

This money is distributed as follows: 207.2 million leva for primary outpatient health services (7.2 million leva more than in 2017); 222.3 million leva for specialized outpatient services (10 million leva more than in 2017); 157 million leva for dental services (10 million leva more than this year); 80 million for diagnostication (2.5 million leva more than this year); 1 billion leva for medical products and special diet foods with medical use and medicinal products for hospital treatment of cancer patients, for which the NHIF pays in addition to the payments for medical services (201.4 million leva more than in 2017); 98 million leva for medical products in hospital care (18 million leva more than in 2017); 1,824,600,000 leva for hospital services (367.1 million leva more than in 2017); 73 million leva for other health insurance payments (13 million leva more than in 2017).

It transpired during the debate that the Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms do not support the proposed budget because of the imbalances in the system and the lack of reforms.

The United Patriots said that they are supportive of the macroeconomic framework of the NHIF budget and will work with experts to see what changes can be made in the distribution of the budget before the conclusive vote.

The chair of the parliamentary health care committee, Daniela Daritkova (GERB), pointed out that the NHIF will have 407 million leva more than this year with more money available for outpatient and hospital services, for dental services, tests and medicines.