site.btaHealth Insurance Fund, Finance Ministry to Provide Free Treatment for Heart Diseases

Outgoing Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov, who spoke on Wednesday's Government meeting, said that the National Health Insurance Fund and the Ministry of Finance will provide free treatment for heart diseases. The Prime Minister said: "As of April 1, 56 drugs for hypertension, arrhythmia and other similar diseases will be fully covered by the Fund and will be free for patients."

Denkov praised the Finance Ministry for the successful project and added: "You know that cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of high mortality in our country. Some 600,000 people take medication for high blood pressure and heart problems. Until now, they have been paying one of the highest prices in Europe - 75% of the cost of their medicines. Since the Health Insurance Fund was established 25 years ago, no government had found the resources or the will to provide free treatment to these patients, even though everyone knew that older people did not take their pills regularly because they could not afford it."