site.btaDraft Revisions Propose Appointment of Regional Coordinator of Health Mediators

The introduction of the position of "regional coordinator of health mediators" is proposed in a draft amendment to the Ordinance on the Requirements for the Activities of Health Mediators. The draft has been published for a one-month public discussion on the website of the Health Ministry. The purpose of introducing this position is to ensure more effective organization, methodological support, and control over the activities of health mediators in the municipalities of the respective region, reads the reasoning for the draft amendments. 

The new position will be filled by established health mediators with proven professional experience, and the coordinators will be appointed by order of the Health Minister. The draft proposes that the regional coordinator participate in the committees for the selection of new health mediators.

In order for health mediators to perform their duties effectively, including visiting remote areas, municipalities will cover their transportation costs. This will facilitate access to health services for people living in isolated neighbourhoods and districts and will support prevention and awareness activities, the reasoning for the revisions reads. The funds will be planned in the annual municipal budgets. Health mediators will also be able to assist patients in hospitals, thereby overcoming communication barriers and preventing conflicts between patients and medical professionals - a problem that often leads to mistrust, non-compliance with therapy, and refusal of treatment.

The standard funding for 2025 for one health mediator position is BGN 20,660 per year. For regional coordinators, a 5% increase in the standard is planned to BGN 21,693 per year. The financial impact for 2026 for 28 regional coordinators will be BGN 607,404 (approximately EUR 310,560).

The amendments to the Ordinance are proposed due to the need to strengthen the role of municipalities in health prevention and to improve access to medical care for the most vulnerable groups of the population. It is also proposed to introduce electronic reporting of the activities of health mediators through a specialized information system developed within the framework of the Healthcare for All project under the Local Development, Poverty Reduction, and Improved Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups programme, funded by the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area for 2014-2021.