NHIF Supervisory Board Approved the Fund's Draft Budget

The Supervisory Board of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) approved by majority the new version of the Fund’s draft budget for 2026, announced Chairman Yavor Penchev and Governor Assoc. Prof. Petko Stefanovski after the meeting, as cited by Zdrave.net. The planned €260 million for doctors without a specialty has been removed from the plan, and funds for individual items have been reduced proportionally due to lower revenues. Additionally, €40 million has been allocated for the creation of an electronic patient health card.

According to Penchev, two main changes were made in the project regarding the remuneration of young doctors: their funding is moved to the Ministry of Health (MH) budget and will be applied through a new mechanism, and the Medical Facilities Act no longer proposes a text with fixed minimum remuneration for medics without a specialty. “This project is the result of a consensus between employers, trade unions, and the state. The government has listened to the opinions of the trade unions, young doctors, and the Bulgarian Medical Association,” he stated. According to him, the previous mechanism was not sustainable and created conditions for tension within the system.

Penchev noted that a new program for residents is planned in the MH budget, which must be developed within two months after the law is promulgated. €30 million has been set for the start, while the exact amount of necessary funds will become clear after the program is drafted. There are between 6,000 and 6,500 residents in the country, with about 1,300 already receiving support through three different mechanisms. The goal is to expand the scope through tripartite agreements between the MH, the resident, and the respective medical facility.

Regarding nurses, Penchev announced that a 10% increase is planned for healthcare professionals in the budget sector, in accordance with the state income policy.

According to the Governor of the NHIF, Assoc. Prof. Stefanovski, the distribution of funds has been reduced proportionally without changing the planned policies. In the new draft, the increase in funds for hospital care is 10.1% compared to 2025 (instead of 11.1%), and for medicines – 10.3% (instead of 11.4%). Funding for biomarkers is maintained, and €3 million has been added to Primary Outpatient Medical Care (POMC) to ensure access to electronic records in the National Health Information System (NHIS).

Stefanovski specified that the electronic health card will allow patient identification for every medical service and provide all medical specialists with access to the electronic record. The card will be available as a physical plastic card and as a mobile application, with its introduction planned for January 1, 2027.

He also announced that medicines will be divided into only two groups – generic and original. “For the first time, we are introducing a pro-generic policy. Generic medicines will not fall under the financial sustainability mechanism and will not have to refund funds,” the Governor stated.

Tomorrow, the draft budget will also be reviewed by the Tripartite Council.