[size=55:3ezkwqhr]BNA 05 September 2010

Priority areas in the restructuring of hospital care.


At its weekly meeting Wednesday the cabinet approved an addition to the concept for restructuring the system of hospital care, the government's information
service said.

The new document determines the three priority areas in the restructuring of hospital care.

The first priority area is the improvement of early diagnosing, quality and access to cancer treatment. The cancer mortality rate in Bulgaria is very high: 232.9 per 100,000 population, against 175.2 in the EU.

The second priority is the improvement of the system of after-care and long treatment, to cope with the ageing population, the increase of chronic diseases incidence, particularly cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In the absence of specialized establishments for long treatment, patients suffering with chronic diseases are hospitalized in mainstream hospitals.

The third priority is ensuring stable financing of the healthcare system and effective utilization of funds. In Bulgaria the ratio between expenditure for hospital care and overall healthcare expenditure is 47 per cent, which is 18 per cent higher than the average in the EU.

In the healthcare system European funds will be used in several areas, first among which is the creation of centres for cancer treatment and general hospitals in district centres. Three centres will be set up for early diagnosing and treatment of cancer. Nine general hospitals will invest in innovative technologies and equipment for early diagnosing of cancer.

The other area where European funds will be utilized is municipal hospitals and cancer dispensaries. Some hospitals for active treatment will be restructured into after-care and long treatment hospitals or medical centres.

The third area where EU funding will be used is de-institutionalization of children between 0 and three years of age, with particular focus on children with disabilities.