Bulgarian healthcare developments

In October 2026, healthcare developments in Bulgaria involved both domestic legal disputes and international cooperation.

The Bulgarian Association of Healthcare Professionals (BAPZG) initiated legal action to challenge the National Framework Agreement (NFA) for the 2026–2028 period. The BAPZG alleges that the Bulgarian Medical Union (BLS) failed to include nurses, midwives, and other specialists in negotiations, potentially violating the Health Insurance Act. The association argues this exclusion ignores the interests of approximately 50,000 specialists and could restrict patient access to services like postnatal and newborn home care. The BLS maintains that all legal requirements were met during negotiations.

Simultaneously, Bulgaria and North Macedonia formalized a healthcare cooperation plan for 2026–2028. Signed in Sofia by Bulgarian Health Minister Katya Ivkova and North Macedonian Health Minister Sasho Klekovski, the bilateral agreement focuses on deepening collaboration in medical sciences, primary and specialized care, infectious disease control, and epidemiological surveillance. The plan also facilitates the exchange of specialists, medical statistics, and electronic health information. As part of the visit, Minister Klekovski toured the University Obstetric-Gynecological Hospital Complex ‘Mother’s Home’ to observe neonatal care practices and discuss newborn screening and early detection methods.