site.btaHealth Minister Says Justified Demands of General Practitioners Have Been Heeded

Health Minister Says Justified Demands of General Practitioners Have Been Heeded

Sofia, March 30 (BTA) - The justified demands of general practitioners have been taken into account in Tuesday's decision of the Supervisory Board of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) supplementing the National Framework Agreement (NFA) for Medical Activities and the changes to the package of medical activities paid by the NHIF, Health Minister Peter Moskov said in Parliament on Wednesday, during a hearing about the ongoing protests of GPs called by the parliamentary group Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP).

On Monday GPs started effective phased protests against the package of reforms moved by Moskov and the ex officio imposition of the framework agreement.

In Parliament on Wednesday Moskov said that the option for round-the-clock commitment of the GP to patients has been reinstated, as well as check-ups for hypertension patients. The sanction for GPs for exceeding the cap of referrals is lifted. There will be sanctions when the total amount of available referrals at the level of the regional health insurance fund has been exhausted.

Moskov said the Ministry is ready to discuss "every reasonable consideration" and "react adequately". He was adamant that he cannot accept the unwillingness of doctors to have clear performance criteria at every level of the healthcare system.

The Health Minister dwelled on the parameters of Tuesday's decision of the NHIF about the framework agreement. Moskov said that from the regulatory point of view, all necessary acts have been passed and promulgated. There is no reduction of volumes and prices of medical activities, he said.

Moskov said also that the decision ensures the financial stability of the system and provides new opportunities for treatment of patients. He said this is not enough, but is a step in the right direction.