Bulgarian healthcare budget and medical reforms

Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev announced a planned increase of approximately 500 million euros for the 2027 state budget to support the healthcare sector. These funds are intended for the National Health Insurance Fund, the National Children’s Hospital, and improvements to the working conditions and salaries of young doctors. The administration also signaled a strategic focus on disease prevention and increased oversight of medical decision-making processes through digitalization.

Following these announcements, new regulations were implemented to adjust compensation for medical residents in state-funded clinical specialties. Under updated provisions in Ordinance 1 of 2015, residents will now receive a minimum monthly salary of 1,550.50 euros, replacing a system based on a multiple of the national minimum wage. To modernize administration, a new electronic portal and digital residency booklets are being integrated into the National Health Information System. While functions such as the publication of vacant positions will become active on November 2, 2026, full operational capacity is expected by January 20, 2027.

Health Minister Katya Ivkova has announced an additional 30 million euro investment for scholarships to support doctors undergoing specialization. This initiative includes a monthly tax-free stipend of 350 euros per trainee, which could raise the total monthly income for those in state-funded training to 1,900 euros. Despite these measures, health economist Arkadi Sharkov noted concerns regarding public spending. While official statistics cite healthcare spending at 8% of GDP, Sharkov estimates actual public spending is approximately 5% of GDP, as Bulgarian households reportedly pay roughly 36% of total healthcare costs out-of-pocket.