“A small pizza with scanty decorations” – that is how Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov figuratively described state budget 2010 in front of journalists. It turned out, however, that the piece of pizza predetermined to finance healthcare next year, is quite modest. Or in other words – for the whole “unhealthy” state of the Bulgarian economy and in connection with the global economic and financial crisis, hospitals will receive 300 million levs (around 150 million euro) less in 2010. The money, which the state gives for prophylactic programmes, will also be reduced. The budget of the National Health Insurance Fund is also severely limited. It is apparent that a hard year awaits both doctors and patients. It will also be especially hard for the hospitals that have accumulated obligations through the years.

“The most worrying part in connection with the budget and the analysis that was made are the long overdue obligations of the healthcare institutions within the hospital systems”, said Health Minister Bozhidar Nanev. “Compared with the previous year they have increased from 33 million levs to 51 million levs i.e from 16.5 million euro to 25.5 million euro. The overdue obligations of the municipality hospitals are about 20 million levs or 10 million euro. We have undertaken certain measures and demand explanations from the directors of these hospitals how they have accumulated such obligations”.

The problem is quite serious especially bearing in mind that relatively small Bulgaria has some 300 hospitals. Privatization of the hospitals in Bulgaria is one of the ever-present burning questions in Bulgarian political everyday life since the 90-s of the 20th century. In February 2008 the restriction hospitals to be privatized was abolished by the National Assembly with amendments in the Bill for privatization and post-privatization control. According to the amendments the restriction is valid for only 64 hospitals and health centres of national significance. At the same time it is fact that till this moment there isn’t a privatized hospital in Bulgaria. Supporters of the idea for privatization of hospitals point out improvement of hospital services and modernization of the material base that will become a fact after a privatization. According to them the healthcare institutions will attract much more money. But the interest if the future investors is closely connected with the exact parameters of the healthcare system and whether the National Health Insurance Fund will continue to hold the monopoly. According to prognosis this monopoly can be abolishe after 2010, considers Minister Bozhidar Nanev. He also adds that the global financial and economic crisis has had a negative effect on the process, as the investor, who wants to buy a hospital in Bulgaria and invest in it, will also need financing. “We must also bear in mind that the process of privatization of a hospital will take at least 8 or 9 months”, points out Minister Nanev.

English version: Ivaila Bozhanova