“The user fee is the only thing in healthcare that has not been changed for more than 13 years“. This was stated by Dr. Gergana Nikolova – member of the Management Board of the National Association of General Practitioners (NSOPLB) in the studio of “The Day Live” by Nova News.
According to her, the association's proposal is to increase the fee from 2.90 to 3.90 leva by the end of the year, and from January 1, 2026, it will become 0.5% of the minimum wage, or about 5 leva.
„Doctors should not perform the social functions of the state“
„The state, with one signature, released a huge number of patients – chronically ill, pensioners, children, pregnant women – from paying the fee, but this was at the expense of us, the doctors“, explained Dr. Nikolova.
According to her, the social function should not be transferred to general practitioners, who are already burdened with numerous administrative and financial obligations.
“It is not logical for the doctor who treats to also bear the social costs of the state. The one who released the patients must pay their fee“, she emphasized.
Proposal: the state should compensate for the fee or deduct it from taxes
The National Society of Public Health and Social Welfare offers two options:
► The state should pay the amount for the released patients for whom it has been decided not to pay.
► If payment is not made, doctors should issue zero financial vouchers, and their value should be recognized as a donation to the state, deducted from taxes at the end of the year.
“We do not want to burden working and insured patients“
“We are not talking about increasing insurance premiums. We are talking about the state stepping into its functions“, commented Dr. Nikolova.
According to her, nearly one million people in Bulgaria do not pay health insurance, even though they are not socially disadvantaged.
“It is not fair for working and paying patients to be harmed at the expense of others who do not pay contributions“, she added.
The expenses of general practitioners: “We do not receive a salary, but we support a company“
Dr. Nikolova emphasized that general practitioners are not salaried, but manage their own practices.
“We have expenses for rent, salaries, insurance, consumables, equipment, software maintenance. This is a real company, not a government office,“ she explained.
According to Dr. Nikolova, there is currently an increase in COVID-19 cases, but the flu is expected to increase around New Year's.
“Now is the time to get vaccinated. We have increased interest and this is good news,“ she shared.
She reminded that the flu and COVID vaccines can be given on the same day, and some patients are already taking advantage of the free vaccines under the national program.
“Free flu vaccines for children too – this must happen“
Dr. Nikolova called on the national program against seasonal flu to include children.
“Every winter we see thousands of sick children, complications, flu vacations and exhausted parents. Free vaccines for children will prevent a lot of suffering“, she said.
On the mandatory chickenpox vaccine: “A wonderful decision“
On the occasion of the introduction of the mandatory chickenpox vaccine, Dr. Nikolova commented: “Chickenpox is not harmless. It leads to severe complications and sometimes leaves permanent scars. The fear of the vaccine should not be greater than the fear of the disease“.