The supervisory board of Bulgaria's health insurance fund (NZOK) has approved its draft budget for 2027, and the health insurance contribution stays at 8%. Fund head Dr Vladimir Daskalov told reporters today.

The board meeting began at 10:00. The budget was the first of three items on the agenda. The second was the sharing out of money from the reserve and an updated monthly split of the 2026 budget.

See also: Health fund board discusses its 2027 budget

One member abstained in the vote. Health insurance contributions stay the same as now.

The fund's budget is close to €5.68bn. That is a rise of more than 8.1%, or nearly €427m, on 2026. Health insurance payments will get more than €478m extra.

Daskalov named the family doctor, early diagnosis and children's health as priorities. Primary and outpatient care get nearly €363m, specialist care nearly €369m and medical diagnostics €177m.

The way treatment for children and adults in Bulgaria and abroad is paid for will change. Until now the money reached the fund as a transfer through the Ministry of Health. From next year the fund will pay for it directly from its own budget. It has set aside €44.764m for this, including genetic tests, special diet foods and aids for people with disabilities.

Deputy head Zdravko Shushkov said no set sum will go to treatment abroad, aids and medical devices. They will be paid from the fund's general budget. Daskalov believes care for children's health remains part of a "large-scale structural reform".

More than €37.3m is earmarked for children aged 0 to 18 in primary care. Newborns will be closely followed in the first 24 hours after birth, and then at home until day 28. Babies will have a check-up every month until they turn one, and home nurse visits until they are 6 months old.

Children and pupils aged 7 to 18 will get more preventive check-ups and screening for childhood obesity. At 16, they will have their lipid profile and cholesterol tested. Children under 7 will get antibiotics and anti-infection drugs for treatment at home free of charge. Prevention, vaccinations and specialist paediatric check-ups stay.

In hospital care, the fund will also pay for biomarker diagnostics. How exactly this will work is still to be settled in talks with the Bulgarian Medical Union. Nearly €82m is set aside for outpatient procedures, diagnostics and regular follow-up checks in hospitals.

The fund will keep paying specifically for medical staff in hard-to-reach areas and for round-the-clock pharmacies in remote municipalities. The budget includes a 3% reserve for unforeseen and urgent costs, which the law requires.

Daskalov said the budget brings order, openness and strict financial discipline. "We are betting on strict control," he said.

In checks for 2025, using data from Information Services, the fund found more than 6 million Excel rows with mismatches worth between €8m and €10m. The check for 2026 is not yet finished.