BMA: Targeted Support for Young Doctors and 'eHealth' Activation to Be Available in All Medical Facilities

In an opinion on the draft NHIF budget for 2026, the Bulgarian Medical Association states that the proposed mechanisms for targeted funding of remunerations for doctors without a specialty and healthcare professionals in state and municipal medical facilities are causing serious dissatisfaction among both young medics and the rest of the profession. According to the BMA, the changes call into question the fairness of the system, disrupt the established hospital funding model, and create conditions for tension between different groups in healthcare.

The organization emphasizes that the project completely ignores the needs of young doctors and healthcare professionals in primary and specialized outpatient care, which further undermines confidence in the policy of public fund distribution.

The BMA states that the current model provides good opportunities for career development after acquiring a specialty, but simultaneously acknowledges that young medics receive significantly lower remunerations compared to professions that do not require high qualifications. The professional organization also draws attention to the difficulties of those working in depopulated regions, where the lack of population makes it impossible to achieve decent income through market mechanisms.

According to the BMA, the state should focus on solving real problems—ensuring a stable start for young doctors and healthcare professionals and providing support for medical staff in vulnerable areas. The organization proposes targeted support for young doctors during the first years of their specialization and for healthcare professionals during the first five years of their professional path. For less developed regions, the BMA insists on state-targeted funding for the remunerations of all medical specialists, which would guarantee decent working conditions and territorial coverage of health services.

Furthermore: The ‘eHealth’ mobile application should be activatable not only by general practitioners but in all medical facilities. This is proposed by the Bulgarian Medical Association in connection with the amendments made between the first and second readings of the draft NHIF budget for 2026, which oblige general practitioners to join the process alongside the current participants.

“The professional organization learned about the planned change after the publication of the proposals for the Draft Budget Law of the Fund for 2026, made between the first and second readings. Nevertheless, it supports the idea and confirms its consistent policy of ensuring transparency in healthcare processes,” the BMA stated.

They added: “In view of more efficient spending in the system and achieving more comprehensive control through a larger number of activated eHealth profiles, we propose that all medical facilities be included in the access activation process, not just general practitioners. This will, on one hand, ensure a wider scope of activated profiles and guarantee equality and broader application of transparency measures in the healthcare system.”