site.btaNHIF Draft Budget for 2026 Increases by EUR 34 Mln, Supervisory Board Chair Says

The draft budget of Bulgaria’s National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for 2026 has been increased by EUR 34 million, NHIF Supervisory Board Chair Yavor Penchev told BTA after an extraordinary meeting. The adjustment reflects the expected rise in the minimum wage, which has led to corresponding changes in the Fund’s financial framework. The additional funds are distributed proportionally between healthcare payment allocations and the NHIF reserve, Penchev explained.

Earlier this week, the Supervisory Board approved a draft budget of EUR 5.537 billion for 2026.

The draft law introduces a new budget line dedicated entirely to remuneration in medical institutions, providing EUR 260 million to ensure a minimum base monthly salary for key healthcare professionals. From next year, doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and other specialists without a medical specialty will receive at least EUR 1,860 per month - 150% of the national average salary. Nurses, midwives, physician assistants, medical and radiology technicians, rehabilitators, public health inspectors, pharmacists’ assistants, dental technicians, and other healthcare professionals will earn at least EUR 1,550 per month - 125% of the national average.

"These funds remain fully secured; there is no risk to this allocation," Penchev assured. He added that the mechanism for distributing the EUR 260 million to healthcare facilities has been improved. Of the total, EUR 30 million will go to secondary budget holders under the Health Ministry to support minimum pay for medical staff, while the remaining EUR 230 million will be distributed through the National Framework Agreement following negotiations between the NHIF and the Bulgarian Medical Association.