The Bulgarian MPs adopted on first reading the 2020 budget of the National Health Insurance Fund. According to the draft budget, the money allotted to the National Health Insurance Fund will see a EUR 223 million increase to EUR 2.273 billion. 120 MPs voted in favor, 88 voted against and no MPs abstained. The Bulgarian Socialist Party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms voted against with the argument that no reforms were made in the healthcare system. In their view, the most pressing problems in this field remained unsolved- the medical specialists are low-paid, the NHIF is in over-indebtedness, the patients are diagnosed late and the number of hospitalizations is too high. Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Kiril Ananiev did not agree with the motifs of the opposition. In his words, every sharp movement would lead to chaos and confusion in the system. The reforms in the health system will be discussed in the coming months, so they can be enforced in 2021, Minister Ananiev said.