Investing in Health and Market Regulation in the European Health Care System

The authors analyze the basic financial principles and the regulated entrepreneurship in the healthcare systems in Europe. They point out that the European countries organize, manage and finance their health care in different ways. Thus the health systems vary not only in the financial methods used, but also in the payment scheme of the insurance institution and the healthcare providers as well as the ways in which the state regulates the health services provision and the development of market relations in healthcare. Some of the most up-to-date challenges and opportunities in front of European healthcare systems are overviewed. An example case study is presented in order to illustrate the need for investing in health as well as for careful financial and regulatory planning and management

Investing in Health and Market Regulation in the European Health Care System

The authors analyze the basic financial principles and the regulated entrepreneurship in the healthcare systems in Europe. They point out that the European countries organize, manage and finance their health care in different ways. Thus the health systems vary not only in the financial methods used, but also in the payment scheme of the insurance institution and the healthcare providers as well as the ways in which the state regulates the health services provision and the development of market relations in healthcare. Some of the most up-to-date challenges and opportunities in front of European healthcare systems are overviewed. An example case study is presented in order to illustrate the need for investing in health as well as for careful financial and regulatory planning and management

Does the Bulgarian Health Care System Need a Health Ombudsman?

Background: The Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Bulgaria (ORB) is an independent constitutional body elected by Bul­garian Parliament in 2005. It serves to protect the rights of all citizens, including the rights of patients, children, people with disabilities, minorities, foreigners, etc. Bulgarian healthcare users complain when they feel that the healthcare system (HCS) has failed their needs or they have been recipients of an inappropriate treatment.Aim: The aim of the present study was to analyze the structure and dynamics of all complaints from Bulgarian healthcare users referred to the ORB over a 13-year period (2005 – 2018).Materials and methods: Retrospective documental research was used in the present study. The data included the complaints ob­tained from the official annual reports of the ORB that are available online. Bibliographic and documental searches were also used as sources. The complaints were analyzed by their annual distribution and classified by problem areas in the HCS.Results: Between 2005 and 2018, there were a total of 3288 complaints filed to ORB against HCS. In 2015, 368 complaints were re­ceived by ORB from Bulgarian healthcare users and from various patient organizations concerning problems in the HCS. The filed complaints to ORB increased by 82% in 2016 (n=421). In 2017, the overall number of ORB-referred complaints amounted to 494, and in 2018 their number was as high as 607, which represents an increase by 23% compared to the number of complaints in 2017.Conclusion: The great number of complaints referred to ORB about the HCS over the last four years strongly suggests that the institu­tion of the Ombudsman in Bulgaria enjoys high confidence among Bulgarian healthcare users