Health Minister Bozhidar Nanev met Tusday with World Bank Country Manager for Bulgaria Florian Fichtl.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Health Ministers Valerii Mitrev and Lyubomir Gaidov, the Health Ministry's parliamentary secretary Todorka Kostadinova and the minister's medicines policy adviser Assen Dudov.

Fichtl stressed that the World Bank has been actively participating in the healthcare reforms in Bulgaria for many years, analysing the condition, density and geographical location of medical institutions, as well as assessing staffing levels. The World Bank has contributed to the development of the information system of the National Health Insurance Fund and has invested in emergency medical care, in the introduction of diagnosis-related groups and in primary healthcare reforms.

Comparing healthcare practices in Bulgaria and in other EU member-states, World Bank experts have recommended a number of measures aimed at reorganization and optimization of Bulgarian healthcare system, as well as mid-term and long-term restructuring. All these measures were listed in the General Plan for organization of the hospital network in the country, which was placed at the disposal of the Bulgarian government in March 2009, the press release reads.

Fichtl pointed out that the new Ministry has a lot of work to do and that it should solve a number of problems regarding hospital care, medicine policy and control. He expressed the World Bank's willingness to assist Bulgaria in achieving its priorities.

Nanev expressed his gratitude for the support and stated his regret that until now the World Bank's expertise has not been properly used to create an effective healthcare model. He stressed that the World Banks' project is largely in line with the vision of the new Health Ministry and most of the listed measures can be successfully implemented.

In connection with the planned healthcare reforms, Nanev said that that the mandatory health insurance, providing a basic package of health services, should be accompanied by a second one, based on voluntary health insurance. The emergency healthcare system should be restructured, so as to expand its activities and to prepare the ground for a hospital care reform. The operational management of hospitals should also be improved significantly, Nanev added.

"I am optimistic and we are ready for constructive work, our work in Bulgaria is a challenge," Fichtel concluded.

Source: BTA