Digitization in healthcare: the end of paper health cards and notes
The Ministry of Health has taken an important step towards the digitization of the healthcare system, easing the burden on parents and medical professionals on the eve of the new school year. With the official introduction of electronic health cards and documents, the need to physically carry paper forms and notes is eliminated. The new system was presented at a briefing at the Council of Ministers by the Minister of Health, Silvi Kirilov, who announced the institutions' readiness for its full-fledged functioning.
As of today, parents of over 2 million Bulgarian children and adolescents under 18 will no longer have to carry the traditional health-prophylactic cards or provide the so-called "contact notes" when enrolling in kindergartens and schools. All the necessary information is now integrated and accessible in the National Health Information System (NHIS). This significantly facilitates not only parents but also general practitioners and medical professionals in school and children's health offices, who now have direct access to the data.
Despite the optimism, Minister Kirilov warned that some difficulties are possible in the initial stage, but emphasized that the direction of the reform is correct. "We are aware that there may be difficulties at the beginning, but we are certain that the direction is correct", he stated. The Minister of Health expressed his gratitude to his colleagues from the cabinet – ministers Valentin Mundrov and Krasimir Valchev, as well as to the team of "Information Services" and all medical professionals who contributed to the implementation of this process. The minister called for joint efforts, emphasizing that the success of the system depends on the teamwork of citizens, doctors, and institutions.
Kirilov made an important clarification that despite the digitization, the mandatory annual prophylactic check-up remains in force. He made a firm appeal to parents not to view the electronic system as an opportunity for remote issuance of documents. "My appeal to parents is not to expect that electronization means remote issuance of documents. The visit to the general practitioner's office is mandatory and we should not view it as an annoying obligation", he pointed out, emphasizing the importance of physical contact with the doctor to guarantee the health of children.
The reform in healthcare comes in response to long-standing calls for the modernization of administrative procedures and aims to ease the burden on all participants in the process while maintaining control over children's health.