January 17 (BTA) - Hospital associations on Monday demanded "a sharp and rapid change" of the total amount of healthcare funding. They had a meeting with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) leadership over fears of hospital budget cuts.

Bulgarian Hospital Association Deputy Chairman Andrei Markov told journalists that the usual tension between the NHIF and medical treatment establishments is not felt right now, but there is much tension over a healthcare funding shortfall. The COVID epidemic has again brought the healthcare funding deficit problem to the fore. Even keeping the funding at the level of last year, which is the usual practice until the new annual NHIF budget is adopted, is bad for the system, because expenses increase by the day, Markov said. In addition to increasing total healthcare funding, it is also necessary to raise hospital maintenance funding, given the steady rise in costs, he added.

Krassimir Grudev of the Association of Private Hospitals said NHIF Director Petko Salchev has assured them that all the money reported for the activity of hospitals will be paid to them. "Most hospitals were worried about the uncertainty, but we clarified the situation and we are satisfied. No hospital budgets will be cut," Grudev explained. PP/VE

Pictured: NHIF Director Petko Salchev

Photo: BTA

Source: Sofia