Patients in Bulgaria are most dissatisfied with the access to medical treatment and the availability of drugs in the country.

Research by the Bulgarian National Patients Organization shows that 878 out of the 2706 complaints that patients have filed recently pertain to the limited access to medic care and drugs in Bulgaria.

Access to medical treatment is most often hindered by the limited number of referrals and the low reimbursement levels for home treatment drugs.

772 Bulgarian patients have complained about the disrespectful attitude of medical staff. 428 of them have said they have been treated with disrespect by doctors and nurses alike, while 86 have not received treatment on time.

The research was launched during the patient rights information campaign and shows a troublesome tendency for Bulgarian doctors to not give enough information to their patients as to why they are prescribed the respective treatment.

252 of the complaints filed refer to corruption in the health care system in Bulgaria – 31 of them are about illegal fees that pensioners have been asked to pay, 10 – about murky donation campaigns launched by medical establishments throughout the country, while 148 patients have complained that they have been forced to choose a certain medical team for their treatment.

238 Bulgarian patients are said to have been victims to medical blunders.

All patients can call the hot telephone line and file their complaint or visit the website of the National Patients Organization.

Last week, the newly appointed Bulgarian Health Minister Anna-Maria Borisova outlined five of the priorities of the Health Ministry, including the introduction of a national health card, boosting pre-hospital care and improving Bulgaria’s emergency medical help.

One of the Ministry's main goals is to update the number and the prices for clinical paths in Bulgaria (access to various medical services).

Another priority is the restructuring of Bulgaria’s the drug and medicinal product distribution regulatory bodies.

Administrative changes, such as mergers of the Ministry’s directorates, are also planned.