site.btaHealth Minister: Healthcare Deficit Will Be Reigned In at Lv 30 Mln

Health Minister: Healthcare Deficit Will Be Reigned In at Lv 30 Mln

Sofia, May 29 (BTA) - Health Minister Peter Moskov told
journalists on Friday that the National Health Insurance Fund
(NHIF) and the Health Ministry are aiming to contain NHIF's
deficit at 30 million leva. Moskov took part in the fifth
national congress of patients' organizations. He was approached
to comment the upcoming talks between the Bulgarian Medical
Association and NHIF to discuss possible ways to reduce the
price of clinical pathways because of deficits and increased
volume of services.

Moskov said he was unsure whether the prices will be reduced but
said that efforts will be made to that end. He specified that
the solution lies in the prompt adoption of the legal framework
to change healthcare expenditures, funding and structure.

An analysis by NHIF suggests that with the current rates of
growth, the prices of clinical pathways should be reduced by 13
per cent, said NHIF deputy chief Dimiter Petrov. The BMA is
signalling it is against a price reduction but there are other
mechanisms which could be used, he added.

Petrov said that NHIF may use the surplus in medical insurance
contributions to cover payments for medical services and
medicines but the amount will become clear in September. He said
that 15 or 20 medical services may be transferred from hospital
to pre-hospital care mid-year.

Minister Moskov told journalists that legislative changes are in
the making, which would introduce an additional excise duty for
salt, sugar, trans fatty acids and caffeine. Projections, based
on an economic and financial analysis show that the excise duty
will generate some 150-200 million leva in additional revenue,
which can be used for prophylaxis, prevention and therapy, he
added.