Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

The Department of Health considers waiving several health insurance contributions in exchange for preventive care screenings

Photo: архив

The Ministry of Health is considering introducing penalties for skipping compulsory examinations and tests, and incentives for those who carry out their routine check-ups, deputy Health Minister Mihail Okoliiski said. General practitioners are currently not very motivated to seek out their patients for routine check-ups, he added, and doctor-patient communication has been completely neglected in recent years. 

This, however, negatively affects the health of the nation, the deputy minister stressed, referring to the fact that Bulgaria has the lowest life expectancy for men in Europe.  The biggest increase in the health care sector envisaged in the draft budget is in the area of spending on primary, outpatient care, Mikhail Okoliiski added. In addition, funds for assisted reproduction and for maternal and child health examinations have been doubled.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Rumen Spetsov

Lukoil says it would not interrupt its activities and fuel supply in Bulgaria

The companies of Lukoil will continue to operate with full transparency and fuel supplies will not be interrupted. This is written in a statement from the Russian oil company, signed by the newly appointed special commercial manager..

published on 11/18/25 9:24 AM

Former caretaker minister heads Bulgarian embassy in Bern

Svetlan Stoev is the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Bulgaria to Switzerland. The presidential decree was published on November 18 in the State Gazette. Stoev is a career diplomat. He started working at the..

published on 11/18/25 9:02 AM

Strong wind disrupted flights to and from Sofia Airport

Strong southerly wind on Monday evening led to the diversion of six flights and the cancellation of five others at Sofia Airport. Flights from Malta, Frankfurt, Vienna and Munich landed in Skopje, and from Bergamo and Warsaw - in Varna. Flights to..

published on 11/18/25 8:45 AM