Bulgaria Grapples with Soaring Corruption Rates: New Report Reveals Shocking Data
Corruption in Bulgaria has soared to its third highest peak in history, according to a recent report by the Center for the Study of Democracy
Bulgaria will purchase foreign-manufactured software to use it in determining prices of hospital care, new Health Minister, Stefan Konstantinov, says.
Konstantinov spoke Saturday in an interview for Darik radio, explaining the new model to determine prices could be launched by 2012.
According to the Health Minister, such purchase from abroad is necessary because lobbying groups in Bulgaria tend to tweak prices in one direction or another while the software pricing would be more fair and independent of the amount financed.
Copay for medical care must be extended beyond hospitals, but it must be small and affordable by all patients, Konstantinov pointed, adding it would be introduced by January 1, 2011, hopefully without large-scale public opposition. He further voiced belief people would chose copay over receiving less medical services.
Under the new rules, the patients would no longer need a referral from their GP in order to consult with a specialist while copay will force them to seek doctors' help only when really needed.
Major hospitals will receive priority financing and adequate equipment and staffing with patients informed in advance which hospitals would be included in the priority list. The rest would not be closed, but copay there would still be required.
Konstantinov said he is against competition between the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) and the private health insurance funds, as written in the election program of the now ruling center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria (GERB) party.
"This is a basic issue. I do not see anything wrong with private funds, but in the current state of finances and the entire mess, we cannot force people to put money in private funds. Namely this fake competition in the health care sector – with too many hospitals, led us to this mess. Free market in medical care is not something I see as being good," Konstantinov said.
We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!
Data from a recent global poll conducted by the world association "Gallup International" represent the diverse perceptions surrounding the threat posed by the coronavirus pandemic
The National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases in Bulgaria has confirmed the country's first case of measles, sparking concerns about potential outbreaks.
While assurances of salary boosts for nurses employed in kindergartens and nurseries have been made recently, the fundamental challenges endure, plunging the sector into a precarious situation
A new report of a gas leak in Karnobat has sparked concern among residents and authorities, as emergency services rush to address the situation
The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) issued a stark warning regarding the looming threat of a large-scale bird flu pandemic, underscoring the potential consequences if the virus were to transition to humans and establish human-to-human transmission
Bulgaria boasts a higher number of graduated and practicing doctors per capita compared to the European Union's average, according to an analysis commissioned by the Bulgarian Medical Union
UN Happiness Report: Bulgaria's Astonishing Leap in Rankings
Bulgaria: 3 Regions With Lowest Life Expectancy - EU Report 2022