A new drastic cut of state funding leaves hospitals with money, covering only the salaries of the staff, while the rest should be paid by the patients.
A few days ago, heads of hospitals have been asked to sign annexes to their individual contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) for August, envisioning serious cuts of their budgets.
“The cuts of the budget are of 30-40% and basically the money that the hospitals will receive can cover only the salaries for the staff. In this way, the patient will have to pay everything – electricity, water, consumables, medicines, etc” said Tsvetan Raychinov, Head of the Bulgarian Doctors Union, in an interview for the Bulgarian “Mediapool”.
Hospitals around the country have already stated they will stop the planned hospitalization and will provide medical services only to the emergencies.
This is the case with the multi-profiled hospital in the Bulgarian city of Shumen. According to the signed annex for August, the budget for the hospital will cover only 65% of the previous activities and will allow treatment of only emergency patients.
Raychinov has stated that the hospitals in the Bulgarian cities of Yambol, Targovishte and Kyustendil are also experiencing difficulties.
“We receive complaints about the new cuts of the funding from hospitals from all over the country,” he said and added that in his opinion, the emergency hospitalization, as well as the planned one, is in danger.
On Monday, head of hospitals in the Bulgarian city of Stara Zagora announced they will not sign the annexes. The heads of eight multi-profile hospitals form the region have signed a declaration, stating they will stop working and start protesting if they do not receive a clear vision by NZOK. Novinite
