Bulgarian Health Minister announces healthcare administrative reforms

Bulgarian Health Minister Katya Ivkova has announced an administrative reform aimed at streamlining the Ministry of Health and its 97 secondary budget managers, including emergency medical centers and Regional Health Inspectorates (RZI). The reform seeks to eliminate duplicate functions, unify information systems, and establish a single national standard to reduce administrative delays and allow medical professionals to focus more on expert clinical work.

Under the new structure, RZIs will no longer operate as independent legal entities but will function as territorial directorates under the Ministry of Health. Additionally, a new system to assess the quality of medical care is being developed. This system is expected to be implemented by the end of the year, with full operational capacity targeted for early 2027, utilizing digital tools to provide objective data for corrective actions.

Regarding the construction of the National Children's Hospital, Minister Ivkova stated that the Ministry of Health is reclaiming control over the process. She noted that there has been no progress in the six years since the creation of the 'Health Investment Company for Children's Hospital' EAD, citing stagnation in both land acquisition and procurement processes.