Dr. Katsarov: NHIF must negotiate drug prices to save millions of euros

Including private hospitals within the scope of the Public Procurement Act for purchasing medicines is a wrong step that will not lead to price reductions, stated Dr. Stoycho Katsarov. Speaking to Nova Television, the former health minister emphasized that the current model creates unnecessary costs and risks for patients.

According to Dr. Katsarov, the main problem is that currently, individual hospitals conduct their own tenders, while the NHIF only pays the bills. He proposes a radical change: the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) should act as a single buyer and negotiate the prices of medicines and medical devices for the entire country for the full annual period.

"No one organizes separate tenders for insulin in every hospital. The Fund negotiates these products, and the prices are the lowest in the European Union. As a single buyer, it can achieve a lower price than any medical facility," Dr. Katsarov noted.

The expert calculates that transitioning to this model—similar to international standards—would lead to savings in the range of 40 to 50 million euros per year. These funds could be redirected toward purchasing more medicines, medical devices, and financing new research.

Katsarov added that the lack of real changes may be due to either a misunderstanding of the problem or an interest in leaving it unresolved. He called on politicians to take responsibility for the rules they set, instead of directing criticism toward hospitals or traders.