Unions and Employers Support Bulgaria’s 2025 National Health Insurance Fund Budget Bill Amid Criticism
On Wednesday, trade unions and most employer organizations expressed conditional support for the 2025 National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Budget Bill during an extraordinary session of the National Council for Tripartite Cooperation, CE Report quotes BTA
The proposed budget includes a 16.5% increase, amounting to BGN 1.3 billion, raising the total NHIF budget to BGN 9.5 billion. Key allocations include BGN 4.1 billion for in-patient care, BGN 650 million for primary out-patient care, BGN 661 million for specialist out-patient care, BGN 418 million for dental care, and BGN 2.3 billion for medicines and medical supplies.
Finance Minister Lyudmila Petkova emphasized that the budget aligns with current policies and has been discussed with political parties. However, she noted that the National Assembly could introduce changes.
Health Minister Galya Kondeva described the budget as balanced, with no changes to the health insurance contribution rate.
While employer groups like the Bulgarian Industrial Association and the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria supported the bill in principle, some raised concerns. Kancho Stoichev of the Bulgarian Industrial Capital Association criticized the budget for lacking revenue-generating measures and contingency plans amid global economic uncertainty.
Trade unions broadly backed the proposal, with Strashimir Genev of the Federation of Healthcare Unions calling it a "reasonably balanced budget." However, some, including Valeri Apostolov of the Podkrepa Confederation of Labour, argued that the caretaker government’s budgets lack strategies for economic growth.
Despite mixed reactions, the bill reflects a cautious approach to maintaining healthcare funding under Bulgaria's current fiscal constraints.
