Corruption is the main problem in healthcare. This was stated to the Bulgarian National Radio by Dr. Miroslav Nenkov, former Minister of Health.
"The whole thing must be torn down. It makes no sense for our hospitalizations to be record highs and our mortality to be record highs.
The Health Insurance Fund wants a brave person who will be seriously politically supported and who will bring order to expenses. Then there will be enough money for the latest equipment and the latest education for our residents and doctors. There will be money for salaries and a very small part of the assistance that our patients receive will be paid extra".
This year, the NHIF budget will not be enough, he predicted in the program "12+3".
"There is enough money in the healthcare system. The bad thing is that a huge part of it is stolen. With the remaining money, what the system offers is not bad at all. The inability of us, doctors, to communicate with our patients worsens the feeling of quality. But medically we are not bad".
Dr. Miroslav Nenkov commented on the information about the presence of patients who have been hospitalized multiple times.
"This is the small spoon with which the Health Insurance Fund bites from the cup".
The control authorities do not have access to a common database showing hospitalizations, examinations and medical procedures for each patient, he explained.
But public attention should be directed in another direction - what the Health Insurance Fund pays for consumables and medicines, as well as to which suppliers, the former Minister of Health emphasized.
"The big scoop is when you sell the Health Insurance Fund headphones, the cost of which is 1.50 leva, and the Health Insurance Fund, after an honest competition, pays you 63 leva for them. The Health Insurance Fund is leaking from this, not from fake hospitalizations. Fake hospitalizations are convenient for big ticks to shift public attention to doctors.
He commented on the announced intention of the health department to discuss a change in the criteria for admission to procedures for couples with reproductive problems.
"There are strict criteria that show whether a lady can get pregnant. It makes no sense for a 62-year-old woman to get pregnant.".
Health insurance is something very useful, Dr. Nenkov also pointed out.
"There should be additional health insurance. But if it becomes part of state policy, it will be ruined.".
The former minister is not optimistic about the future of domestic healthcare.
"Even miniature reforms will not happen. These over 9 billion will not be enough. Next year the health care budget will be increased – again with the same effect. The reform must be multi-layered".