site.btaBulgarian Medical Association Sees Outpatient Funding Boost, Warns of Hospital Shortfalls in Talks with Health Insurance Fund

The Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA) sees enough funding in the 2025 budget for the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) to raise the rates of key outpatient services, including paediatric care, physiotherapy, imaging diagnostics, and monitoring patients with multiple conditions, BMA said here on Wednesday. 

Based on an analysis of last year’s activity and budgets approved by the National Assembly, BMA believes these increases can be accommodated within the allocated amounts.

However, BMA is concerned that hospital care may be underfunded in real terms, citing unpaid NHIF services worth BGN 146 million, rising inflation, and mounting pressure from medical personnel for higher wages. It warned there is uncertainty whether hospitals will receive full payment for services rendered in 2025.

On March 19, MPs adopted the NHIF budget for 2025, which provides BGN 9,474,000,000 in revenues and transfers (16% more than last year). A total of BGN 8,873,000,000 is earmarked for health insurance payments.