site.btaBulgarian Medical Association Does not Support National Health Map

Bulgarian Medical Association Does not Support  National Health Map

Sofia, March 17 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Medical Association's (BMA) governing council has decided that its representatives in the commission for drafting a National Health Map (NHM) will vote against its adoption, reads a letter sent by the BMA to Health Minister Peter Moskov and published on its website on Thursday.

According to the Assocication, the NHM should have been ready before the start of this year. It is still not ready, despite the fact that 28 regional health maps have been prepared, along with three NHM versions. In addition to that, the methodology behind the regional health maps is currently being disputed in court, the Association recalls. Also, the data from regional health maps have not been taken into account in the NHM. According to BMA, it remains unclear whether the changes to health care facilities and their new activities have been taken into account during the Map's preparation, despite the long period for public discussion. The Association is perplexed by the fact that the document says that Sofia has an excess of general practitioners, while in reality there is an obvious shortage. There is no mechanism for regional health inspectorates to issue documents certifying the shortage, which would determine the possibility for signing contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund, the BMA adds.

The public attitude, the opinion of regional BMA chapters, municipalities and regions voice concerns and worries, the letter further reads. It also lists other reasons for which the Association does not support the NHM.