site.btaNational Health Insurance Fund Draft Budget Provides EUR 260 Million for Young Doctors' Salaries, NHIF Governor Says

The 2026 draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) provides EUR 260 million for the salaries of young doctors, the Governor of the National Health Insurance Fund, Associate Professor Petko Stefanovski, told journalists on Wednesday, after a meeting of the Fund's Supervisory Board. The NHIF's total budget provides for a 14% increase over last year's budget, he added.

The funds in the financial plan include an increase in the money for primary outpatient care, hospital care, dental care, medicines, medical diagnostic activities, etc. The budget also provides for 2.4 million hospitalizations for next year.

This budget provides for minimum wages for young doctors, nurses, and other categories of medical personnel, NHIF Supervisory Board Chair Yavor Penchev said. The total amount of the draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund is EUR 5.537 billion, Penchev added.

Resident doctors will receive the amount they requested, 150% of the average gross salary, which amounts to EUR 1,860, while nurses, midwives, and other categories of medical staff will receive at least 125% of the average gross salary, which is EUR 1,550. These additional EUR 260 million are earmarked for hospital care and are solely for salaries, Penchev said. According to him, these funds do not come from health contributions but are a transfer from the central budget.

Talks are forthcoming with the Bulgarian Medical Association to develop a methodology for distributing the EUR 260 million, Stefanovski said. He added that the value and volume of clinical pathways are to be determined in consultation with the professional organization.

The draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund will be submitted to the National Assembly for a vote, Penchev added. According to him, there is no risk that the money for the salaries of medical specialists and healthcare professionals will be dropped from the final adoption of the state budget and the budget of the Fund for next year. Penchev stated that there is political consensus on this issue. The decision on these EUR 260 million for salaries was taken on Tuesday at the meeting of the Joint Governance Council, Penchev said.