site.btaParliament Passes Amendments to Medical-Treatment Facilities Act on First Reading

Parliament Passes Amendments to Medical-Treatment Facilities Act on First Reading

Sofia, July 15 (BTA) - Bulgaria's Parliament Tuesday passed on first reading Government-proposed amendments to the Medical-Treatment Facilities Act. The vote was 102 in favour (GERB, the Reformist Bloc, the Patriotic Front and ABV), 21 against (BSP-Left Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) and one independent), and 5 abstentions (Bulgarian Democratic Centre). The Ataka Parliamentary Group did not take part in the vote.

The bill proposes changes in the regulatory mechanisms for the creation and updating of a National Health Map to identify and plan the population's need of accessible off-hospital and hospital medical care. Under the draft legislation, as from January 1, 2017 a positive accreditation would be a mandatory condition for the conclusion of a contract between hospital-care medical-treatment facilities and the National Health Insurance Fund.

As expected, ahead of the debate Health Minister Peter Moskov said he will not insist on keeping in the bill a controversial provision allowing the privatization of hospitals.

"BSP-Left Bulgaria does not support the bill," MP Emil Rainov said. He argued that the health system must be changed only after a national consensus has been reached. In his words, the bill lacks financial justification and an impact assessment.

"The MRF will not back the bill," said MP Tuncher Kurdjaliev. He argued that the philosophy and concept of the changes are in conflict with the MRF's platform. Kurdjaliev noted that the bill was not subjected to a public discussion and the National Association of Municipalities and the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation were not consulted on it.