The Bulgarian healthcare system is in a critical condition, threatened by a serious staff shortage and financial challenges. This alarming conclusion was made during a television broadcast by the leading healthcare expert - Dr. Alexander Simidchiev.
In an expert analysis, the deputy from the parliamentary group "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" emphasized that the system urgently needs interventions. The main problems are related to the lack of young medical personnel and inadequate compensation for medical specialists.
According to Dr. Simidchiev, who is the vice-chairman of the parliamentary Health Committee, there are specific mechanisms for quickly resolving the crisis. He proposed that the Ministry of Health allocate between 12 and 15 million levs in the form of additional incentives for medical specialists.
A key problem that was highlighted is the way hospital institutions are financed. The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) does not directly pay for medical labor, as this component is missing from clinical pathways. This puts hospital management in an extremely difficult position when distributing financial resources.
Statistical data presented by the expert show that in the last five years, 60% of new technologies in hospitals were invested in medical equipment and drugs, but not in human resources. This imbalance further deepens the problem of turnover among young medical specialists.
Dr. Simidchiev emphasized that although legislative initiatives for systemic changes exist, their implementation will take at least a year. Therefore, he insists on immediate actions that can be taken right away, without requiring significant legislative changes.
Among the proposed urgent measures is the creation of a targeted program aimed at state and municipal hospitals. This program could provide additional funding to help retain young medical specialists and improve their compensation.
The expert firmly stated that the problem is systemic and requires immediate attention, with priority given to the most critical factors - the shortage of nurses and low pay for young doctors.