Changes in Healthcare Management: Reorganization of Agencies and New Rules for Medicines Under Discussion

The healthcare system in Bulgaria is preparing for significant structural and financial transformations. According to current plans being discussed in the Ministry of Health, a large-scale reorganization of the department and its subordinate bodies is forthcoming.

One of the main focuses is the change in the control over medical facilities. The transfer of control functions to 28 specialized departments directly to the Ministry of Health is being considered. In parallel, the merger of several key institutions – the Executive Agency for Medicines (EAM), the National Council for Control of Medicinal Products (NCCMP), the Central Agency for Rational Use of Medicinal Products (CAR), and the Executive Agency for Medical Supervision (EAMS) – into a single unified "mega-agency" is being planned.

The financial framework also presents challenges. With the adoption of the NHIF budget for the next period, serious changes are outlined in the Reimbursement Mechanism. Forecasts show that more than 1,438 types of medicines could be excluded from this mechanism, representing more than half of the list currently funded by the fund.

These measures are part of a broader healthcare reform aimed at optimizing costs and more efficient resource management in the sector.