In a direct political clash on the topic of healthcare, the candidates for deputies Dr. Vlatko Gligorov ("Progressive Bulgaria"), Prof. Kostadin Angelov (GERB-SDS), Dr. Lidiya Chorbanova (BSP-OL), Margarita Mahaeva ("Vazrazhdane") and Dr. Alexander Simidchiev (PP-DB) argued about prevention, major healthcare projects, staff shortages and control over funds in the system on the air of "Denyat ON AIR".
The system is not just "under pressure". The system seems compromised and broken. Years without decisions, but with consequences.
Healthcare is the place where politics loses its right to abstraction. Urgent decisions are needed. "We from "Progressive Bulgaria" have a clear concept regarding citizens' money in the NHIF, because we are not convinced that the money is not enough. On the contrary, we think that perhaps it is enough, but this will become clear when a revision of the uninsured is made and when the facts related to the specific conditions for certain groups of people for whom the state pays health insurance contributions change," commented the candidate for MP from "Progressive Bulgaria" in the 23rd MIR - Sofia, Dr. Vlatko Gligorov, during a pre-election debate on healthcare on the show "Denyat ON AIR". The position of GERB-SDF
The candidate for deputy from GERB-SDF and leader of the list in 4 MIR - Veliko Tarnovo, Prof. Kostadin Angelov, stated that efforts should be made to increase the incomes of Bulgarian citizens.
"We will work for economic growth so that Bulgarians become richer", he emphasized and added that GERB-SDF intends to create a program that will guarantee that patients with oncological diseases will not pay for medical devices and consumables.
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The candidate for MP from BSP-OL in 17th MIR - Plovdiv Lidiya Chorbanova stated that for a decade Bulgarians have been leading all negative rankings, noting that we live 6 years less than others.
"The state budget does not allocate 1 targeted euro for prevention. Mass screening is not carried out. The most important thing that needs to be done is to allocate targeted funds for prevention. Prevention will save money for treatment," she emphasized.
According to the candidate for MP from "Vazrazhdane" in 25th MIR - Sofia Margarita Makhaeva, there is a leakage of funds. According to her, there is insufficient control over their distribution.
"For us from "Vazrazhdane" it is important to have complete transparency regarding the spending of funds," she told Bulgaria ON AIR.
The candidate for deputy from PP-DB in the 25th MIR - Sofia, Dr. Alexander Simidchiev, pointed out that we must prioritize and stop the leaks, because there are unwisely spent resources and the focus should be on quick measures. Co-payments and reforms in hospitals
According to Dr. Gligorov, co-payments must stop and state hospitals should not be divided into private, state or municipal.
"We will not increase taxes and social security contributions. Bulgaria has the most hospital beds per population in Europe. We are planning a process that will allow inefficient hospitals to be reformed. Sometimes private hospitals are managed better than state ones", reported Prof. Angelov. Chorbanova is of the opinion that the health contribution should not be increased.
"Vazrazhdane" has no intention of increasing health contributions. The money is already enough, it is just not distributed effectively. A moratorium should be imposed on the creation of new hospitals. 25% of all medical institutions are located in Sofia. This is inefficient and does not work", explained Mahaeva. Dr. Simidchiev commented that access does not depend on the number of hospitals, it depends on whether we have transport for those in need to the hospitals.
"We have a health strategy. There is a clear prioritization in this strategy, we just have to implement it," he specified.
Dr. Gligorov asked why Bulgaria missed the opportunity to build a proton center with European funding that would treat serious oncological diseases, including in children.
Prof. Angelov rejected the thesis on the air of Bulgaria ON AIR that GERB had abandoned the project, and pointed out that the center remains possible, but now with national funding.
According to him, the blame for the loss of European funds lies in the delay in the Recovery Plan at other departments. Chorbanova also pointed to the responsibility for decisions made by previous financial managements. On the topic of prevention, Margarita Makhaeva defended the thesis that more funds should be invested in the system for early detection and prevention, because this is more effective for both patients and the budget.
Gligorov insisted that the scope of preventive examinations should be expanded, especially for women, by lowering the lower age limit. Dr. Alexander Simidchiev defended the idea of patients receiving SMS notifications for medical activities performed as a measure against abuse of public funds. According to him, this is a working control mechanism similar to bank notifications.
He also emphasized that telemedicine should not replace doctors, but should help where access to specialists is limited. Prof. Angelov posed a general question to all participants as to what they would do to help Bulgarians live longer, and proposed the creation of a national center for screening and prevention. Chorbanova supported the idea of mass, state-funded screening and prevention.
Makhaeva also agreed, but emphasized that without enough doctors and nurses there can be no real result.
Simidchiev emphasized the more efficient use of funds and data-based decision-making. Gligorov was more cautious and insisted on first solving the deep structural problems in the system. During the debate, a consensus emerged that municipal hospitals and medical staff were among the most serious problems in the sector.
Prof. Angelov proposed a model in which doctors and nurses in municipal hospitals would be financed simultaneously by the medical institution, the municipality and the state.
Chorbanova and Mahaeva also united around the need for better payment of young doctors and medical specialists, as well as limiting co-payments by patients. It also came to a sharp dispute over the National Children's Hospital. Chorbanova asked why funds earmarked for its equipment were being wasted, and Gligorov stated that, in his opinion, the reason was corruption and blocked processes.
Angelov reacted sharply and accused him of making political accusations without offering specific solutions.
Despite the mutual attacks, the debate also showed common positions - more prevention, better access to care, solving the staffing crisis and stricter control over public funds.
The main dispute remained who is to blame for the delayed projects and how exactly the health system should be changed.