On the eve of the International Health Day the National Assembly hosted a public debate “The physician the Bulgarians trust”. The forum, was held under the auspices of the President of the National Assembly Tsetska Tsacheva.

„Dear Bulgarian physicians, stay in Bulgaria, we, Bulgarians do need you – the physicians we trust”. These were the words with which Tsetska Tsacheva, President of the Parliament addressed the physicians, nominated by the readers of “24 chassa” daily. Each success of the Bulgarian doctor, she added, is a success for our society.

The topic of healthcare is constantly in the focus of public debate, it is permanently subject to heated discussions and should be item number one on the agenda of each responsible statesman and politician, added Tsetska Tsacheva.

The President of the National Assembly pointed out that she expected the physicians to voice their position  on the issues of healthcare financing, in-patient and out-patient treatment, on the legal framework and the health insurance model at today’s discussion.  She assured the participants that the key massages of the forum would stand in the focus of attention of each Member of the 41st National Assembly.

Healthcare Minister Dessislava Atanassova pointed out that any change in the area of healthcare could be successful only if it enjoyed broad public support. She qualified the nominated physicians as undisputed public opinion leaders in the area of healthcare.

The forum heard a presentation of the results of a survey of physicians on the problems of Bulgarian healthcare and the most appropriate model of a health insurance system for Bulgaria. 67 percent of the nominated physicians were of the opinion that financing was the major problem for healthcare. Two thirds supported the idea of financing healthcare through one public fund and several complementing private health insurance funds. 32 percent of the respondents were of the opinion that the legal framework was the major problem for the healthcare system.

The persons nominated as the physicians that the Bulgarians trust were presented with Honourary Diplomas. The forum was attended by members of  the Healthcare Committee of the Parliament.