The healthcare program of Progressive Bulgaria sets the establishment of an effective, transparent, and socially just system as its primary objective, ensuring equal access to quality health services for all citizens, regardless of income, place of residence, or social status. The document also outlines a transformation of the model\u2014shifting from predominant hospital treatment toward a broader focus on prophylaxis, prevention, early diagnosis, outpatient care, and post-treatment recovery. <\/p>\n\n
The program provides for the preservation of the solidarity-based health insurance model as the foundation of the system. It stipulates a gradual increase in public healthcare expenditure as a percentage of GDP to average European levels, as well as the introduction of clear and public oversight over the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) budget. <\/p>\n\n
It includes a revision of clinical pathways and a transition toward more realistic and effective payment models oriented toward the quality of treatment and the valuation of labor. Provisions are also made for reducing patient co-payments, centralized procurement of expensive medications, equipment, and medical devices, as well as strict measures against abuses and the draining of health funds. <\/p>\n\n
The program includes special measures for small settlements and remote regions. Financial and social incentives are planned for doctors and nurses working in areas with staff shortages. <\/p>\n\n
The development of mobile medical teams and telemedicine is planned, along with the guarantee of emergency medical assistance within reasonable timeframes across the entire territory of the country.<\/p>\n\n
The construction of a National Children’s Hospital is planned as a strategic national priority, featuring modern equipment, highly qualified personnel, and a multidisciplinary approach. The hospital must be public and entirely oriented toward the needs of children and their families. <\/p>\n\n
The development of pediatric specialties and the creation of centers for rare and severe childhood diseases are included, as well as the improvement of pediatric emergency and primary care nationwide. Investments are planned for prophylaxis, early diagnosis, and school healthcare. <\/p>\n\n
The program provides for a fair mechanism for the adequate remuneration of medical personnel\u2014doctors, nurses, midwives, and orderlies\u2014aiming to reduce pay disparities between different specialties.<\/p>\n\n
A national program for retaining young medical specialists in Bulgaria is included. Part of this involves the introduction of a unified national exam for residency placement based on an anonymous competitive principle for all regions and hospitals in the Republic of Bulgaria. <\/p>\n\n
Changes to the Academic Development Act and medical universities are planned so that personnel training aligns with the needs of the healthcare map of the Republic of Bulgaria. A system for incentivizing the salaries of nurses, residents, specialist doctors, assistants, chief assistants, associate professors, and professors is established to ensure stepped career development. <\/p>\n\n
The program includes a clear definition of the roles of “physician assistant” (feldsher) and “paramedic,” as well as their integration into the health system and their distribution across the country’s regions. Improvements in working conditions and a reduction in administrative burdens are also planned. <\/p>\n\n
Regulated rules and conditions for residencies and the funding of postgraduate training are established, with increased state commitment to continuing education and specializations both domestically and abroad. Measures to address the shortage of nurses are also included. <\/p>\n\n
The program includes a comprehensive modernization of the emergency medical services system. It provides for the renewal of the fleet with modern and fully equipped ambulances. <\/p>\n\n
Motivating medical personnel to work within the system through better working conditions, qualification opportunities, and pay is a key component. A reduction in response times through improved logistics and coordination is also planned. <\/p>\n\n
The establishment of an integrated communication system and telemedicine links is included, along with the modernization of hospital emergency departments. Personnel training and the introduction of modern action protocols are also planned. <\/p>\n\n
The creation of a functioning unified national model for the management and coordination of HEMS is planned, fully integrated with the 112 system, regional emergency centers, and medical facilities, with clearly defined responsibilities and activation criteria.<\/p>\n\n
A review and supplementation of medical standards for the mandatory use of HEMS is planned to provide emergency medical aid within the “golden hour” for severe traffic accidents, polytrauma, heart attacks, and strokes, as well as incidents in hard-to-reach locations.<\/p>\n\n
The system’s operation will be ensured in compliance with European aviation safety standards. This includes creating and maintaining the capacity to perform missions at any time of the day and in all weather conditions through a systematic policy of training, capability upgrading, and the retention of flight, technical, and medical staff. <\/p>\n\n
The program includes building search and rescue capacity to complement the capabilities of the Air Force, as well as constructing the necessary infrastructure at operational bases and pads to allow 24\/7 system operation, storage, and maintenance of aviation equipment.<\/p>\n\n
Ensuring sustainable funding for the system is also planned to allow for the continuous provision of air emergency medical aid for all Bulgarians.<\/p>\n\n
The program provides for free and regular preventive check-ups with a wide range of activities tailored to every age group.<\/p>\n\n
A transformation of the healthcare model toward more prophylaxis and disease prevention is planned, prioritizing maternal, child, and school healthcare, and the prevention of socially significant diseases.<\/p>\n\n
The transition from the medicine of illness to the medicine of health is included by changing the balance between treatment and prophylaxis. National programs to combat socially significant diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes are planned. <\/p>\n\n
Active policies for child and school healthcare, care for the chronically ill and the elderly, socialization programs and care for retirees, as well as mental health and addiction prevention programs are established.<\/p>\n\n
Measures to support a healthy lifestyle through education and the public environment are included, along with programs to combat antibiotic resistance, hospital-acquired infections, and related mortality. Programs to improve communication between the health system and patients are also planned. <\/p>\n\n
The program provides for the optimization of the hospital network without closing vital structures and the introduction of clear criteria for opening and funding hospitals.<\/p>\n\n
The shift of activities from inpatient to outpatient care is planned, with a significant portion of cases expected to be treated in ambulatory settings.<\/p>\n\n
Oversight of medication prices and the mitigation of shortages are included, as well as the development of long-term care hospitals and hospices.<\/p>\n\n
The inclusion of medicinal products in the positive reimbursement list is planned primarily based on pharmacoeconomic efficiency criteria.<\/p>\n\n
Centralized negotiations with drug suppliers to achieve price discounts are planned, along with support for Bulgarian pharmaceutical production.<\/p>\n\n
The program includes the full implementation of the electronic health record, electronic referrals, and prescriptions, as well as real-time monitoring.<\/p>\n\n
A reduction in bureaucracy for patients and doctors is planned, alongside guarantees for personal data protection and cybersecurity.<\/p>\n\n
The creation of an effective e-health system with a unified database for all hospitals is planned to allow communication between medical facilities.<\/p>\n\n
The program mandates the publicity of all key decisions and contracts in healthcare, as well as strengthened parliamentary and civil oversight.<\/p>\n\n
The introduction of clear quality indicators for medical services and zero tolerance for corruption is planned.<\/p>\n\n
The development of diagnostic and treatment algorithms, constant monitoring of compliance with good medical practice rules, and measures to overcome negative attitudes toward doctors and the undermining of the profession’s prestige are included.<\/p>\n\n
The program lists the improvement of public health and increased trust in the healthcare system as the expected results.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The healthcare program of Progressive Bulgaria sets the establishment of an effective, transparent, and socially just system as its primary objective, ensuring equal access to quality health services for all citizens, regardless of income, place of residence, or social status. The document also outlines a transformation of the model\u2014shifting from predominant hospital treatment toward a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5386,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jet_sm_ready_style":"","_jet_sm_style":"","_jet_sm_controls_values":"","_jet_sm_fonts_collection":"","_jet_sm_fonts_links":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5384","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n