Specialized Outpatient Medical Care Facilities Request an Update to the Patient Co-payment Fee

Specialized outpatient medical care facilities are requesting an update to the patient co-payment fee. The National Association of Specialized Outpatient Medical Care Facilities (NASOMCF) supports the Bulgarian Medical Association’s proposal to increase the patient co-payment fee and expresses categorical support for the Union’s leadership. This was stated in an official position of the organization sent to the Chairman of the BMA, Dr. Nikolay Branzalov.

The statement recalls that the patient co-payment fee was originally linked to the minimum wage as a percentage of it. The goal was to preserve its real value. This model was introduced to encourage the responsible use of healthcare services, limit over-diagnosis, and support the underfunded healthcare system. Subsequently, this principle was abandoned without the introduction of an alternative mechanism, leading to the devaluation of the fee, a distortion of the insurance model’s philosophy, and difficulties for medical facilities.

“We stand in solidarity with our colleagues from primary outpatient and hospital care. We believe that the patient co-payment fee and the minimum wage should once again be made proportional, as this is the most fair and objective indicator. We support the BMA’s proposal for a reasonable increase and stand firmly behind this demand,” the NASOMCF position states.