Patient charges for health services: the opinions of healthcare stakeholders in Bulgaria

被引:2
作者
Atanasova, Elka [1 ,2 ,3 ,4 ]
Pavlova, Milena [3 ,4 ]
Moutafova, Emanuela [1 ,2 ]
Kostadinova, Todorka [1 ,2 ]
Groot, Wim [3 ,4 ,5 ]
机构
[1] Med Univ, Dept Econ & Healthcare Management, Varna 9002, Bulgaria
[2] Med Univ, Fac Publ Hlth, Varna 9002, Bulgaria
[3] Maastricht Univ, Fac Hlth Med & Life Sci, Med Ctr, Maastricht, Netherlands
[4] Maastricht Univ, Fac Hlth Med & Life Sci, Med Ctr, CAPHRI, Maastricht, Netherlands
[5] Maastricht Univ, Top Inst Evidence Based Educ Res TIER, Maastricht, Netherlands
关键词
official patient charges; healthcare stakeholders; health services; Bulgaria; PAYMENTS;
D O I
10.1002/hpm.2229
中图分类号
R19 [保健组织与事业(卫生事业管理)];
学科分类号
摘要
The reforms of the Bulgarian healthcare sector have been widely discussed, both nationally and internationally. In spite of the reforms, problems with the efficiency, equity and quality in healthcare provision continue to exist in Bulgaria. Among others, the reforms included the implementation of formal patient charges for the use of healthcare services. These were established in the country in 2000. Formal patient charges are applied to all levels of medical services with the exception of emergency care. The aim of this paper is to describe and analyze the attitudes of Bulgarian healthcare stakeholders toward patient charges. The analysis is based on data collected in focus group discussions and in-depth interviews carried out in Bulgaria in May-June 2009. The paper concludes by recommendations for policies related to patient payments. The social sensitivity of these payments requires broad discussion before policy decisions are implemented. There is also a need of a well-thought communication strategy on the issue of patient payments by the Ministry of Health. Copyright (c) 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
引用
收藏
页码:232 / 245
页数:14
相关论文
共 21 条
[1]  
Atanasova E, 2010, J HEALTHC HLTH MANAG, VVIII, P48
[2]  
ATANASOVA E, 2012, SOC EC, V34, P313
[3]   Out-of-pocket payments for health care services in Bulgaria: financial burden and barrier to access [J].
Atanasova, Elka ;
Pavlova, Milena ;
Moutafova, Emanuela ;
Rechel, Bernd ;
Groot, Wim .
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, 2013, 23 (06) :916-922
[4]   What have 10 years of health insurance reforms brought about in Bulgaria? Re-appraising the Health Insurance Act of 1998 [J].
Atanasova, Elka ;
Pavlova, Milena ;
Velickovski, Robert ;
Nikov, Bogomil ;
Moutafova, Emanuela ;
Groot, Wim .
HEALTH POLICY, 2011, 102 (2-3) :263-269
[5]   User fees for public health care services in Hungary: Expectations, experience, and acceptability from the perspectives of different stakeholders [J].
Baji, Petra ;
Pavlova, Milena ;
Gulacsi, Laszlo ;
Groot, Wim .
HEALTH POLICY, 2011, 102 (2-3) :255-262
[6]   Understanding informal payments for health care: the example of Bulgaria [J].
Balabanova, D ;
McKee, M .
HEALTH POLICY, 2002, 62 (03) :243-273
[7]   Under-the-counter payments for health care: Evidence from Bulgaria [J].
Delcheva, E ;
Balabanova, D ;
McKee, M .
HEALTH POLICY, 1997, 42 (02) :89-100
[8]  
Dimova A, 2007, HLTH CARE REFORM BUL
[9]  
Dimova Antoniya, 2012, Health Syst Transit, V14, P1
[10]  
Griga I, 2010, J HLTH CARE HLTH MAN, VVIII, P69