Health Reform in Bulgaria

Dimova, Antoniya; Rohova, Maria; Popov, M; Rechel, Bernd

doi:10.1057/9781137264770_3

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…Bulgaria has a small number of well-implemented WHPOW initiatives supported by a well-developed legislative and institutional framework based on EU regulations and directives, and on a successful social dialogue on OSH at national level. However, the economic crisis has led to a reduction in health promotion measures [24]. Therefore, despite the presence of international collaboration and research projects in Bulgaria, the latest public health and health promotion tools have remained largely underutilized [25].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, despite the presence of international collaboration and research projects in Bulgaria, the latest public health and health promotion tools have remained largely underutilized [25]. Health promotion interventions focus mainly on healthy behaviour, health information, education and communication, training for health professionals, and health surveys among the population and medical staff [26]. Conversely, in Lithuania wage increases and work relations issues are still the most important topics on the social partners' agenda and questions such as sustainable work, older workers or disabled workers arouse little interest [27].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Workplace health promotion programs in different areas of Europe

Magnavita

Capitanelli

Falvo

et al. 2022

ebph

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Background Aging of the workforce challenges European countries. Keeping aged workers healthy and productive, through health promotion, is a key goal of European labour policy. The aim of the present study was to collect experiences of workplace health promotion for older workers (WHPOW) conducted in 10 representative countries of Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. Methods A literature review of activities of WHPOW was conducted through a comprehensive search of major scientific databases and on the website of the major European Agencies on worker health promotion. The search was restricted to papers published in English from 2000 to 2015. Companies were asked for additional documentation about WHPOW programmes in a survey conducted with SurveyMonkey. Results A total of 756 initiatives regarding WHPOW were identified. 134 of these were guidelines, regulations, or review studies. The remaining 622 activities were intervention studies performed or promoted in the workplace and targeted at older workers or at the aging of the workforce. Most of the programs were carried out in Central Europe (295, 47.4%), less in East Europe (193, 31.0%) and in Mediterranean countries (134, 21.6%). Conclusion Our study shows that there are only a limited number of WHPOW actions throughout the 10 selected European Countries. While in Central Europe widespread interest in issues of aging workforce has resulted in national policies to encourage WHPO, not all the countries of Eastern Europe are equally well equipped. Lastly, in Southern Europe health promotion activities are largely inadequate compared to needs.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Workplace health promotion programs in different areas of Europe

Magnavita

Capitanelli

Falvo

et al. 2022

ebph

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“…Until 1998, Bulgaria's healthcare system was state-owned and supported by state taxes. With the health sector privatization in 1990, new public rules were adopted to justify the introduction of rules for private entities that gradually began to emerge in this sector (1).…”

Section: Development Of the Healthcare System 1990-2015mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pricing, Reimbursement, and Health Technology Assessment of Medicinal Products in Bulgaria

Benisheva-Dimitrova

Sidjimova

Cherneva

et al. 2017

Int J Technol Assess Health Care

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Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the analysis, discussion, and challenges of the price and reimbursement process of medicinal products in Bulgaria in the period 2000–15 and health technology assessment (HTA) role in these processes.Methods: The dynamics of the reform, with respect to the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors, are tracked by documentary review of regulations, articles, and reports in the European Union (EU), as well as analytical and historical analysis.Results: Pricing and reimbursement processes have passed through a variety of committees between 2003 and 2012. Separate units for pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products were established in Bulgaria for the first time, in 2013, when an independent body, the National Council at Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products, was set up to approve medicinal products with new international nonproprietary names (INN) for reimbursement in Bulgaria. Over the course of 2 years (2013–14), thirty-three new INNs were approved for reimbursement. In December 2015, a new HTA body was introduced, and assigned to the National Centre for Public Health and Analyses.Conclusions: Although Bulgaria has current legislation on pricing and reimbursement which is in accordance with the EU rules, there is no mechanism for reporting and monitoring these processes or the financial resources annually, so as to provide an overall objective assessment and analysis by year. Therefore, this financial assessment should become a national policy objective for the future.

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“…In Bulgaria, the implementation of such charges as part of the social health insurance system ended the tradition of free‐of‐charge services delivery inherited from the healthcare system during the communist period. Moreover, they were introduced in a context of persistent informal (under‐the‐table) patient payments (Delcheva et al ., 1997), which continue to exist at present (Dimova et al ., ; OSI, ; Atanasova et al ., ; Dimova et al ., ). These new formal charges were introduced following the example of Western European countries with insurance‐based healthcare systems, and they caused quite a lot of discussion in society.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patient charges for health services: the opinions of healthcare stakeholders in Bulgaria

Atanasova

Pavlova

Moutafova

et al. 2013

Int J Health Plann Mgmt

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The reforms of the Bulgarian healthcare sector have been widely discussed, both nationally and internationally. In spite of the reforms, problems with the efficiency, equity and quality in healthcare provision continue to exist in Bulgaria. Among others, the reforms included the implementation of formal patient charges for the use of healthcare services. These were established in the country in 2000. Formal patient charges are applied to all levels of medical services with the exception of emergency care. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze the attitudes of Bulgarian healthcare stakeholders toward patient charges. The analysis is based on data collected in focus group discussions and in-depth interviews carried out in Bulgaria in May-June 2009. The paper concludes by recommendations for policies related to patient payments. The social sensitivity of these payments requires broad discussion before policy decisions are implemented. There is also a need of a well-thought communication strategy on the issue of patient payments by the Ministry of Health.

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Health Reform in Bulgaria

Cited by 13 publications

References 4 publications

Workplace health promotion programs in different areas of Europe

Workplace health promotion programs in different areas of Europe

Pricing, Reimbursement, and Health Technology Assessment of Medicinal Products in Bulgaria

Patient charges for health services: the opinions of healthcare stakeholders in Bulgaria

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