We insist on finding a sustainable solution through collective bargaining, not with specific amounts in the law. This was stated at a press conference in the National Press Club of BTA by Krasimir Grudev, Chairman of the National Association of Private Hospitals (NAPH). The reason is the targeted state transfer of 260 million euros for labor remuneration for personnel in the Law on Medical Establishments, envisaged in the draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for 2026. NAPH and the Bulgarian Hospital Association (BHA) consider the approach incorrect.
We are setting precise, fixed amounts in the Law on Medical Establishments, and what will happen next year when inflation hits us even harder – will we make amendments to the law again? Grudev asked. According to him, this also violates the principle of tripartite dialogue.
The topic concerns the remuneration of young medical specialists, said the chairman of the BHA, adv. Svilena Dimitrova. For more than 20 years, funding in healthcare has been based on the activity performed. The current proposal is to fix amounts only for salaries, which leads to an imbalance in the way the system functions, she commented. It is not correct to give a fixed sum without it being relevant how the person who receives it participates in the work process, Dimitrova stated.
In addition to payment, we must also think about building opportunities for realization with which to retain young specialists, said Andrey Markov from BHA.
The two associations claim in a written position that it is planned for the transfers for personnel “to be made to specific medical institutions: hospitals, mental health centers, centers for skin and venereal diseases, complex oncology centers and homes for medico-social care, but not to private ones”.
On November 26, the Budget and Finance Committee of the National Assembly approved on second reading the draft budget of the state social security, as well as of the NHIF for 2026.
A day later, the ruling authorities announced that they would rework the draft budget for 2026 in dialogue with trade unions and employers. The first talks were on Friday, November 28. It is expected that this week the talks in the tripartite format will continue.