site.btaGovernment Adopts National Health Map

Government Adopts National Health Map

Sofia, March 23 (BTA) - The Government has adopted Bulgaria's National Health Map, the Government Information Service said Wednesday.

The map determines and plans the needs for accessible outpatient and hospital medical aid, on the basis of which the structure of the healthcare network will have to be adapted and effective and fair use of resources will have to be planned. The National Map was developed on the basis of regional health maps with the help of a national commission.

To guarantee access of the population to medical services in primary medicare there should be at least 4,886 GPs which exceeds their current number. The European standard of 1 GP per 1,500 people has been used, thereby outlining a shortage of over 470 GPs.

The map also defines the necessary minimum number of doctors in specialized outpatient care by regions, complete with a correction ensuring enrolment beyond the present regulation provided by the National Health Insurance Fund and expansion of activities beyond the scope of the new existing regulation. The total number of required doctors in outpatient care exceeds 11,000, and that of dental doctors - 9,119. For the first time the map plans the needs of the population for medicare specialists in outpatient treatment, totaling 10,805 nurses.

The number of beds by type, medical activity and competence degree have also been planned: the total number of beds for active treatment is 35,855 per mil of 4.9 ensured while they currently number 38,284. The analysis established a shortage of pediatric beds, relatively sufficient ER and obstetric beds, as well as a surplus of therapeutic and surgical beds. The number of beds for long-term care, physiotherapy and rehabilitation stands at 16,802. A total of 6,588 beds have been planned for long-term care and palliative care. This exceeds the existing resources.