site.btaBulgarian Health Care Sector Not Reformed - EC Report

Bulgarian Health Care Sector Not Reformed - EC Report

Sofia, July 7 (BTA) - The Bulgarian health care sector is not
reformed, said Filip-Michal Domanski of the European
Commission's (EC) Health and Food Safety Directorate General. He
was speakingl during a Tuesday meeting of the Partnership for
Health Council, held at the Council of Ministers. Domanski
presented the EC's specific recommendations to Bulgaria for 2015
regarding the health care sector.

The recommendations will be put to the vote during the July 14
ministerial council. Eleven countries have received
recommendations in the health care sector this year, compared to
16 last year, Domanski noted. According to the Commission's
report, there must be financial stability in the health care
sector, so that there is better absorption of funds, especially
in view of the pricing of medical services, as well as of
primary and outpatient medical care.

The health care system in Bulgaria does not manage to provide
patients with equal access to health care. The responsible
institutions must take steps to reduce or remove the financial
pressure put on patients, so that they can have equal access to
health care, regardless of their individual economic situation.
Another problem outlined in the report is the non-payment of
health insurance contributions by certain citizens, which poses
a problem for health care establishments.

The report also proposes starting reforms which could reduce the
number of beds in hospitals, not merely by closing hospitals,
but through other methods and activities, based on analyses of
the public's needs. According to Domanski, the level of
long-term medical care and services in Bulgaria is not good,
while the number of people who will need such care will grow.