The draft budget for 2026 is a symptom of a deep systemic illness: "we are pouring more money in, but without a vision for reform"; higher taxes, but without a perspective; more and more burdens, but less and less trust.
The 2026 budget continues the logic of "the more we spend, the healthier we will become," but the reality is the opposite.
Costs are rising, and the system and citizens are getting sick.
The budget of the Ministry of Health, amounting to 703.6 million euros, of which 78.11 million euros go to treatment, and only 14.61 million euros are for prevention.
The state transfer to the NHIF amounts to 2.378 billion euros, without any ties to quality, access, and results.
Capital expenditures amount to 46.6 million euros (6.6%) and are grossly insufficient for modernization, digitalization and emergency assistance.
This is not health policy!
The problem is not the lack of money, but the lack of thought about how it is spent.
We also support the criticism of the increase in dividend tax, social security contributions and the maximum social security income. These measures will not solve structural problems, nor will they lead to better public services, including in healthcare.
Instead of thinking about how business can support society: through donations, social investments, and partnerships, the state is once again choosing the easy way out: more taxes, more control, more bureaucracy.
In Bulgaria, companies and citizens actually support the system. Through donations, volunteering, innovation. Instead of being encouraged, they are punished with burdens and uncertainty.
Raising taxes and social security contributions is not a solution to structural problems, but rather stifles investment, the possibility of innovation, and undermines trust in the state.
The NHIF will distribute more funds, but along the same clinical pathways, without reform, without seeking quality results, without the necessary transparency.
The money for the salaries of young doctors is being "redirected" through paths, and there is no guarantee that it will reach them...
The National Children's Hospital project has fictitious planned funds of only 25 million euros, with a real value of over 400 million.
At the same time, 15 million leva, which is how much it would cost to renovate all the other children's wards in the country, which the Foundation
#ForGood We haven't yet transformed the Firefly project, they are not found.
This is not a lack of money, but a lack of moral and managerial responsibility.
The healthcare budget is growing, but there is no change in the model. Every year we pour more funds into hospital care, while prevention, children's and regional healthcare are slowly dying.
What needs to be done?
Rebalancing public spending – more funds for prevention, prophylaxis and health infrastructure.
Targeted financing of salaries – implementation of the mechanisms for guaranteed salaries of doctors and nurses confirmed by the Constitutional Court.
Transparency and public oversight of the Ministry of Health's projects, especially the National Children's Hospital.
Tax incentives for
#donation, an opportunity for part of the corporate tax to be directed to registered public causes with full accountability.
Transparent assessment of the effectiveness of public spending: clearly seeing where and how access to health services is being improved.
Instead of pitting business and society against each other, the state should unite them.
Innovation, social responsibility and investment in human capital are a common interest.
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