Abstract

The objectiveof this study was to analyse the reimbursement of the cost of medicinal products by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the public expenditure on such products over the period 2007-2012. The method used was based on analyses of legal framework and historic records from the NHIF and the National Statistics Institute. It was established that the number of medicinal products on the positive reimbursement list had increased significantly over the analysed period by 211.75%. The annual average rate of increase of public expenditure on medicinal products designed for treatment at home is 12.59%. Nevertheless, the share of public sources in the total health expenditure has decreased from 61.0% in 2003 to 56.3% in 2011. The slower rate of increase of the public expenditure on health care compared to private funds limits the possibility of achieving one of the major objectives of reimbursement, namely improving the access to health care. Bulgaria’s health policy should aim at extending the public funding sources by introducing additional health contributions or health insurances.