Diana Georgieva, head of the Bulgarian Association of Health Care Professionals (BAHCP), will appeal against the national framework contract for medical services for 2026-2028. The association's National Council gave her a mandate to do so, BAHCP said. See our original report: BAPZG demands review of the new National Framework Agreement.

The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Bulgarian Medical Union (BMU) signed the contract in early September without the association.

BAHCP is appealing because it was not invited to the talks. It says this breaks Article 54(1) of the Health Insurance Act. Under that provision, the BMU must invite the association when it negotiates the part of the contract that covers the work of nurses, midwives and associated medical specialists.

The association believes that, as in earlier years, the interests of health care professionals were not taken into account. It says the interests of patients who could use care paid for by the health fund were also ignored.

In September, BAHCP asked the parliamentary health committee to look into the signing of the contract without the association.

The National Council speaks for the professional body. Its members include the Management Board, the heads of the regional colleges and the leaders of the national advisory councils.