site.btaNational Health Insurance Budget for 2024 Gets Approval by All Social Partners Except One Employer Organization
At the meeting of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation (NCTC) of the unions, employers and the government, all participants except the Association of Industrial Capital in Bulgaria (AICB) supported or expressed principled support for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Budget Bill for 2024.
The budget foresees a record increase in healthcare funding.
Dobrin Ivanov of AICB explained that the budget bill fails to offer visible reforms and insisted that the health map needs to be updated, which is why his organization would not back the proposed budget.
The Bulgarian Industrial Association (BIA), the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (CEIB) confirmed their support in principle for the NHIF budget bill.
The Union for Private Economic Enterprise, the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria and the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour also support the proposed draft budget.
“We are aware that Bulgaria has the lowest healthcare expenditure in the EU and therefore efforts must be made to increase these funds. This budget shows progress,” said Tsvetan Simeonov from the BCCI. In his words, the recommendation to increase the funding for the prevention of diseases has been taken into account.
Deputy Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski commented that the unprecedented increase in funding for health care requires increased control over spending.
He pointed out that incentives are offered for general practitioners to carry out more preventive check-ups.
Deputy Health Minister Mikhail Okoliski said that it will take an effort to explain to people the ample opportunity for preventive care that they have. According to him, only 38% of people go to preventive check-ups and this is not enough.
The government officials emphasized that the Health Ministry's desire to provide adequate medical care in remote settlements.
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