Public Lecture on The Health, Financial, Economic and Managerial Aspects of Bulgarian Healthcare

A public lecture on the Health, Financial, Economic and Managerial Aspects of Bulgarian Healthcare was delivered at the university by Dr. Ilko Semerdzhiev, Minister of Healthcare (1997-1999) and Deputy Minister in three governments as well as founder and first Director of the National Health Insurance Fund. The lecture was organized by the UNWE and the Sofia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). At the event attended Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev, Vice Rector in Scientific Research Activity, Georgy Chernev, Chairman of SCCI, Chief Assist. Dr. Nikolay Vankov from the Marketing and Strategic Planning Department and moderator of the Forum as well as lecturers, representatives of the business and students.  

Prof. Dr. Valentin Goev greeted the guest on behalf of Prof. D.Sc. (Econ.) Statty Stattev, Rector of UNWE and emphasized on the importance of the public lecture.  

Prof. Goev is presenting the lecturer. On the right next to him: Georgy Chernev, Dr. Ilko Semerdzhiev, Chief Assist. Dr. Nikolay Vankov

This is the consequent of dozens of public lectures which were held during the last months at the university in the framework of the Agreement signed between the UNWE and the Sofia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, pointed out Georgy Chernev, Chairman of SCCI. 

The attendees during the public lecture in the Ceremonial Hall

In his extensive presentation Dr. Ilko Semerdzhiev visualized through facts and numbers the state of health system over the years as well as its current state. By the data of the World Health Organization he made a comparative analysis on the various health parameters in our country and in the EU member-states. He examined the reforms implemented during the period of 1997-1990, differentiated the notion of healthcare and medicine and explicitly declared that “the healthcare is one hundred percent of policy”. The lecturer commented on the legislative amendments, economic and structural measures, key motivational changes, degradation of the Semashko model as well as the foundation of solidary-based health insurance, etc. “During our governance we succeeded to realize 79 of the hundred steps which had to be implemented by the health reform but now the country has gone back on the first 20 of them”, emphasized the lecturer. 

Dr. Ilko Semerdzhiev

Dr. Semerdzhiev commented also the issues of the health insurance payment, rise in the cost of medicines and their prices in comparison with the ones in other countries, the health expenditure in our country and in the world, etc. He analyzed the recently suggested changes by initiating the so called based packages which he determined as “a pogrom on the system but not a reform”.

The lecturer answered all the questions from the audience very comprehensively.