site.btaNational Health Insurance Fund Supports Introduction of Fingerprint Identification for Patients in Hospitals

National Health Insurance Fund Supports Introduction of Fingerprint Identification for Patients in Hospitals

Sofia, October 13 (BTA) - The Supervisory Board of the National
Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) supports the proposal of Health
Minister Peter Moskov for the introduction of fingerprint
identification for patients when admitted in hospital, Stanimir
Hasurdzhiev, representative of patient organizations on the
Supervisory Board, told journalists Monday.

On October 6, Health Minister Peter Moskov announced in
Parliament that the Health Ministry is taking steps to introduce
 biometric identification for patients when admitted in hospital
 or purchasing drugs through NHIF, as a means to counter
violations at hospitals. Moskov explained that fingerprint
identification will be done for verification purposes, recalling
 that all Bulgarian citizens have their fingerprints taken when
taking an ID card.

Hasurdzhiev said that after the introduction of the system for
checking in ID cards, hospitals have saved 1.5 million leva a
month, with the total savings amounting to around 10 million
leva. There is a financial effect for NHIF but the system is
being evaded, he added.

The introduction of fingerprint identification builds upon the
system for checking in ID cards so that the misuse of insured
persons' money can be reduced. The fingerprint identification
system is one of the cheapest options, and Bulgaria is among the
 few countries which have not introduced it, Hasurdzhiev told
journalists. He specified that no fingerprints will be
collected: the identification uses biometric data and generates
an individual code.

Experts are about to give an opinion on the technical solution
and the price of fingerprint identification's introduction.
Hasurdzhiev also said that a procedure will be elaborated for
the admittance in hospital through fingerprint identification of
 people in a state of emergency.