The Bulgarian parliament is to vote on Thursday on the national health strategy (2014-2020).

The strategy, which had been updated this year and approved by the government in November, identifies the priorities and strategic goals for development of the country's healthcare system.

Among the measures included in the strategy are: improvement of the emergency medical service; change in the pricing system of medical activities and medicines; introduction of a national health card, which will limit the number of hospital beds.

The national health card will also provide the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) with the opportunity to conclude contracts with health facilities on a selective basis.

The strategy foresees an increase of the healthcare budget by 0.2 %-0.3 % each year until 2020, daily Dnevnik informs.

The document focuses on carrying out reform of the financial system, which is aimed at achieving demonopolisation of NZOK.

Changes in healthcare packages and the budget of NZOK are also featured in the strategy.

During the discussion of the strategy in the parliamentary health commitee, Health Minister Petar Moskov noted that the document has to be adopted by the end of the year, otherwise Bulgaria will lose EU funds during the new programme period.

The document outlines five strategic goals, which in general concern: improving the health of Bulgarians to the average EU levels; transforming the health system for ensuring accessible and quality service; development of electronic and mobile healthcare; developing medical cadres; development of scientific knowledge and innovations.