The draft budget of the Health Fund envisages 260 million euros for the salaries of young doctors. This was stated by the manager of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Assoc. Prof. Petko Stefanovski, to journalists after a meeting of the Supervisory Board of the National Health Insurance Fund.
The Fund's general budget envisages a 14% increase compared to last year's budget, he added. The envisaged funds include an increase in funds for primary outpatient care, hospital care, dental care, medicines, medical diagnostic activities, etc.
This budget envisages the minimum salaries for residents, nurses and other categories of medical personnel, said Yavor Penchev, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Fund. The total amount of the draft budget of the NHIF is 5.537 billion euros, Penchev also indicated.
Doctors in training will receive the amount they wanted - 150% of the average gross salary, which amounts to 1860 euros, and nurses, midwives and other categories of staff will receive at least 125% of the average gross salary, which is 1550 euros. These additional 260 million euros are set aside in the hospital aid account and are solely for salaries, Penchev said. According to him, these funds are not from health contributions, but are a transfer from the central budget.
Talks are underway with the Bulgarian Medical Union to develop a methodology for distributing the planned 260 million euros, indicated Assoc. Prof. Stefanovski. According to him, the prices and volumes of clinical pathways are also to be specified with the professional organization.
The draft budget of the NHIF is going to the National Assembly for a vote, Penchev also said.
According to him, there is no risk that the money for salaries for resident doctors and healthcare professionals will be cut when the state budget and the budget of the Fund for next year are finally adopted, BTA reports. Penchev pointed out that there is a political agreement on this issue. The decision on these 260 million euros for salaries was made yesterday during the meeting of the Joint Management Council, Penchev said.