"In the unstable political situation and in the absence of a budget, not a single problem in the healthcare system can be solved. The budget is part of the national framework agreement regarding the prices of medical services and they will remain the same". This was stated by the chairman of the Bulgarian Medical Association, Dr. Nikolay Brunzalov, to bTV, quoted by news.bg.
In his words, a service depends on quality, accessibility and the financing of the service. When there is suffering in one of these components, it cannot but affect the other two components, Brunzalov pointed out.
According to him, no matter how small the increase in the NHIF budget is, various policies can be implemented through it, new activities and technologies can be introduced, and medicine can gallop forward. Bulgaria can provide very good healthcare if it has the appropriate funding, commented Nikolay Brunzalov.
He pointed out that the government and parliament are not dealing with the user fee for a visit to a doctor. "There should be a debate on this topic about the amount of the user fee. What is happening at the moment is a mockery of doctors. The ridiculous amount for pensioners at the moment is 51 euro cents for a visit to a doctor, and for other citizens it is the staggering amount of 1.48 euros. I am simply ashamed to comment on this topic," Nikolay Brunzalov pointed out.
He also noted that hospitals are not prisons and patients can go anywhere if they are not examined - even in gaming halls. The Bulgarian Medical Association will make proposals for improving control.
"The bomb that was thrown into society is - look at what doctors do with society's money", Brunzalov pointed out.
Nikolay Brunzalov also commented on the salaries of doctors in Varna. "If health care money is not increased drastically, after a short period of time Bulgaria will become poorer in doctors, it will become poorer in nurses and these things will affect the health status of the entire society," he warned.
And he called for ensuring stable financial protection for young doctors, even when they specialize. The state must allow itself, because the demographic crisis in medical specialties is even more pronounced and Bulgaria will face very big problems, Brunzalov warned once again.
Nikolai Brunzalov assured that there will not be a national flu epidemic in the country, given that it does not differ much from the recent flu epidemics. The number of people wishing to get vaccinated every year is increasing, he reported. And he added - the flu virus is very changeable and there must be adequate antiviral drugs.