15.05.2013ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTH REFORMS WITH AN IMPACT ON THE ROMA COMMUNITY IN BULGARIA April, 2013
EVERY CITIZEN WITH AN ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD
Since April 15TH, every Bulgarian citizen may have access to the electronic medical record. The personalized information system contains information about the selected personal physician (since year 2000 up to now) and reports of his activities, as well as the activities carried out by other doctors-specialists, hospitals, laboratories and pharmacies (since 2009). The file also contains information about the reported activities and services by dentists (since 2012). Through the system, anyone can understand for which medical services he/she has free or partly paid access. Anyone who wants to have access to the electronic file must submit an application in his Regional Health Insurance Fund in order to get a unique 10-digit code containing letters and numbers. Application must be submitted in person, a personal ID card must be presented.
Public Council on Health was established to the Ministry of Health
The first meeting of the newly established Public Council took place on April 5TH, Friday, at 14.00 h. at the Ministry of Health. The meeting was opened by the Minister of Health. Prof. Dr. Nikolay Petrov. Deputy Minister Dr. Miroslav Nenkov is a Chairman of the Public Council. The Council serves as an advisory and consultative body to the Minister of Health and presents opinions and recommendations concerning the strategy for the development of health care and legislative changes.
For 6TH consecutive year Bulgaria participated in the European immunization week.
The motto of the campaign is “Let's save the fifth child”, as 20% of the world's children are not covered by vaccination. The campaign is organized for the eighth time by the World Health Organization, this year it includes 53 countries from all over the world. In Bulgaria, the aim of the campaign this year is to inform the parents of how important it is to vaccinate their children, as well as to respond to some of the biggest fears associated with the negative effect of immunization, as it was announced during a press conference at the Ministry of Health. "Immunization is not an obligation, it is a right of every child," the Chief State Health Inspector, Dr Angel Kunchev, said.
A campaign website has already been launched (www.imunizacionnasedmica.bg), where the answers to all the questions related to immunization of children are given.
Delayed public tenders of the Ministry of Health are delaying lifesaving lab-work for HIV-positive patients
For a couple of weeks, the five Centers for treatment of HIV/AIDS have not been performing tests for viral load of HIV-positive patients. This happens due to the disputed results of the public tender. On January 30TH, 2013, the Ministry of Health has announced a tender procedure for purchasing of diagnostic materials for monitoring of antiretroviral treatment, which are necessary to cover the needs during the year 2013. The immunological and virological monitoring and resistance tests have been provided at this time.
The tendering procedure was opened. The deadline for the submission of tenders was 22.02.2013. On 25.02.2013, the Commission appointed by the order of the Minister of Health in accordance with the Law on public procurement, has started examining the offers. After the end of the selection procedure, the results were contested by one of the interested parties, which automatically blocked the application of research through relevant supplies which are the subject of the contract. You can get the details of the tendering procedure on the website of the Ministry of Health: http://www.mh.government.bg/Articles.aspx?lang=bg-BG&pageid=432&home=true&categoryid=1004&articleid=5549
The contestation of the procedure may take up to 6 months, during which hundreds of patients from all over the country do not have an opportunity to monitor their vital indicators.
In less than four years 17 hospitals have been closed, BGNES reports.
Of all closed hospitals 9 are public and 8 – private, according to a report of the Ministry of Health. Among the closed facilities are municipal multi-profile hospitals in Elena, Sevlievo, Triavna, Bobov Dol. Now, residents of General Toshevo and Tervel, where the hospitals were closed in the end of the last year, must turn for medical treatment to the hospital in Dobrich. Patients from Bobov Dol are redirected to Dupnitsa and Kyustendil, those from Tran and Breznik - to Pernik. However, the hospital in Devin, which was closed in July 2011 due to debts of 1.6 million levs, is not mentioned in the report.
New rules abolish hospital fees
The additional fees, which patients now pay in hospitals, will be abolished. The new rules concerning the access to medical services that will put an end to the absurd charges at the clinics, will be prepared. Among them is the “accompanying person”, the "Trud" reported. According to the functioning legislation and internal rules, fees are collected for “private room, telephone, TV, optional dining menu, choice of doctor, and others." The experts now will describe specifically all kinds of allowed additional payments in order to avoid the abuse of this "others", which now gives a wide field of the imagination of the directors of hospitals.
The Ombudsman called for pharmacies in the outlying villages and rural areas
The Ombudsman of Bulgaria Konstantin Penchev said that the institutions must find an effective mechanism for ensuring access to medicines for people in small and hard to reach places where there are no pharmacies. He said this in a statement sent to the Prime Minister, Health Minister and branch organizations of pharmaceuticals and doctors.
2982 peopletried to commit a suicide in 2012
Only one of the psychiatric hospitals in our country meets the European standards. All the others are in a tragic situation, the conditions are miserable and are from the time of socialism. This became clear during the meeting of psychiatrists from all over the country in Sofia. "Psychiatric Hospital in Pazardjik is in excellent condition," explained Dr. Hristo Hinkov, who is also a Deputy Director of the Center for Health Knowledge and Analysis. The most deplorable is the situation of the psychiatry in Kurilo. 2982 people tried to commit a suicide in our country during 2012. Of those 763 people took their lives, and 2219 were rescued”, Dr. Hinkov announced.
The full version of the health analysis can be found in Bulgarian at:
