On September 9, the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Bulgarian Medical Union (BMU) signed the National Framework Agreement (NFA) for medical activities for the 2026-2028 period. During the ceremony held at the Ministry of Health in the presence of Minister Katya Ivkova, both parties signed the agreement, which triggered an official protest from the Bulgarian Association of Healthcare Professionals (BAHP). The organization stated that the new NFA was signed without its participation in the negotiation process.
According to the BAHP, such a situation violates the Health Insurance Act (HIA) and harms the interests of both patients and healthcare professionals. Prof. Kostadin Angelov, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Healthcare, and Petar Vitanov, Chairman of the "Progressive Bulgaria" parliamentary group, have already received letters from the organization. These letters urge legislative changes to the HIA to grant the BAHP the status of a full legal negotiating partner with the NHIF regarding activities performed by midwives, nurses, and associated medical specialists. "This would enable the professional organization to protect the interests of healthcare professionals and patients," the letters emphasize.
Changes in health insurance and the framework agreement will determine the access to medical care for patients throughout the region.
The organization insists that the NFA matter be reviewed by the Parliamentary Committee on Healthcare. In the context of the ongoing budget procedure for 2027, the BAHP calls on deputies to analyze the role of outpatient healthcare within the entire system during the upcoming hearing. The goal is to expand the scope of NHIF-funded healthcare by adding patients with severe chronic conditions—such as oncological, cardiovascular, and other diseases—to the current coverage for newborns and their families. To achieve these objectives, the organization points to necessary regulatory changes in the Law on Medical Facilities and in Ordinance 9 regarding the NHIF package.