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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.



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