Healthcare policy of Mr. Borisov’s Cabinet seems more radical, chaotic and rushed, while the maneuvers in the sector have very dubious effect. Almost every day the parliamentary opposition, hospitals, doctors or patients submit a complaint against a law, contrary to the existing regulations or even the constitution.
The speedy healthcare reform began last year with the government’s attempt quietly to nationalize the accumulated since 2000 reserve in the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), amounting to BGN1.234 billion. After the socialists warned they will refer to the prosecution the matter of improperly spent money for health insurance, Finance Minister Simeon Dyankov tried to explain that the money is kept in the accounts of the Central Bank and will be used only in a case of a planned deficit of the fund. Few people believed him, but this act showed the real willingness of the rulers to change unilaterally the country’s healthcare system without paying attention to the opinion of the participants in the system, nor the public opinion.
The came new laws, new amendments and regulations – which were very debatable, unrelated to a strategy and some even showing lack of logic. Therefore it is not surprising that last year the court was forced to make a corrective to what was happening in healthcare.
One of the legislative acts that may go to court is the new Law on hospitals. Or at least its part relating to the requirement for a specialized hospital to have at least 30 beds and for the multi-profile ones – not less than 60 in order to be able to enter into a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund. The disputed text actually put in a disadvantageous position all private clinics operating in fields such as eye, nose and throat treatment, and those focusing on urology and cardiology, that usually don’t cover the required number of beds and staff.
These clinics are faced with a dilemma – either build or rent additional premises or employ more people just to meet the criteria, or go bankrupt. Former healthcare minister Anna-Maria Borisova back in 2010 tried to have the text passed, but the Supreme Administrative Court abolish it. Now rulers are trying to incorporate it in the Law on hospitals again.
Magistrates will also have to decide the strange case with the transfer of BGN100 million from the NHIF budget to that of the healthcare ministry. This was actually the second time such a transaction has been made after one 2010, which was challenged by the opposition in court as unconstitutional.
