Health Systems and Policy Monitor (HSPM)

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Updates

Reduced co-payments for medicines for home treatment of cardiovascular diseases

28 March 2024 | Country Update

The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) has proposed to increase the reimbursement level for more than 400 medicinal products, grouped into 52 INN groups, indicated for the home treatment of chronic cardiovascular diseases. The proposal is supported by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance and will be implemented from April 2024, following ratification by the National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products.

The NHIF estimates that more than 600,000 patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases will receive medicines from these groups free of charge or at reduced co-payments. The necessary funding for the amendment will be provided through the NHIF budget.

The decision to increase the reimbursement level for medicines for chronic cardiovascular diseases is in line with the NHIF’s long-term strategy to fully reimburse pharmaceuticals for socially important chronic diseases and to expand the group of medicinal products for which patients pay no or low co-payments.

Among EU Member States, Bulgaria has the highest share of out-of-pocket payments in total health expenditure. The largest share of out-of-pocket payments (68%) is spent on medicines. The proposed amendment is expected to reduce the high level of out-of-pocket payments in Bulgaria. It is also expected to improve access to medicinal products and increase adherence to the prescribed therapy.
References

National Health Insurance Fund: https://www.nhif.bg/bg/news/475

OECD/European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies (2023), Bulgaria: Country Health Profile 2023, State of Health in the EU, OECD Publishing, Paris/European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, Brussels

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