site.btaPharmacists Stage Nationwide Protest against Health Fund Changes

Pharmacies nationwide shut down for up to two hours on Wednesday as part of a protest action against proposed payment changes by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). This comes after Association of Pharmacy Owners Chair Nikolay Kostov warned about the pending protest earlier this week.

The Master Pharmacists Initiative Committee (MPharm IC) organized the protest action, drawing participation from Blagoevgrad, Burgas, Dobrich, Kardzhali, Montana, Pazardzhik, Pernik, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sliven, Sofia, Haskovo, and Yambol.

MPharm IC sent a letter opposing to the proposed amendments to the caretaker Health and Finance Ministers Galya Kondeva and Lyudmila Petkova. The Ministry of Health's proposals, open for public consultation on its website until 4 July 2024, have been the cause of concern among MPharm IC members.

The Dobrich Regional Pharmacy Association will organize protest from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Thursday outside the Regional Health Insurance Fund building, Regional Association President Miroslava Lyutskanova told BTA.

Pharmacists in Pleven have also joined the nationwide protests, Pleven Regional Association President Lyubomir Panov told BTA on Wednesday.

Silistra pharmacists have voiced support for their national colleagues' grievances, but did not stop work on Wednesday, Silistra Pharmacy owner Dimitar Krastev said.

Montana Pharmacy owners halted prescription services between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. on Wednesday, member of the Montana Regional Association Kristina Dzhurdzhova said on Wednesday. She warned of potential active protests if NHIF proceeds with proposed changes. Not all 35 pharmacies in Montana have joined the MPHarm IC protests.

Pharmacists in Pazardzhik also joined the national protest, Master of Pharmacy Yordanka Musheva said. Pharmacies remained closed until 4 p.m., with further action anticipated locally in the coming days.

Pharmacies from Sofia Region also joined the national protest, Sofia Regional Association President Sonya Taneva confirmed.

Yambol pharmacists also protested on Wednesday, Secretary General of MPharm IC Konstantin Popov told BTA. The action included a gathering outside the Regional Health Insurance Fund office, and most of the 30 local pharmacies shutting down operations for two hours during the day.

The NHIF press service announced on Wednesday that a position has been published on their website. The position emphasizes the proposed amendments, which aim to facilitate patient care and ensure financial discipline in the use of NHIF funds.

This year, the NHIF budget allocated more than BGN 36 million for pharmacies to dispense fully covered medicines, a figure set to increase by 11% in 2024. This information was included in the proposed amendment.  The cost of payments to pharmacies has increased drastically. The total reported number as of July 31 of 100% prescriptions fully covered by NHIF will reach BGN 34 million, or nearly 94% of the budgeted amount, the proposal concludes.