Health Minister Radoslav Gaidarski said he would refrain from presenting new health regulations, if hospital privatisation money was not given to the Health Ministry.
Nearly one billion leva would be produced through hospital restructuring, privatisation and concessions, Novinar newspaper reported. Yet, the funds could be granted to the Finance, rather than the Health Ministry.
University hospitals will remain public, Gaidarski said.
Gaidarksi said at least one billion leva would be needed for modern equipment. Hospitals in other countries renewed equipment every five years and some of the technology used in Bulgarian hospitals was at least 15 years old, said Gaidarski.
Gaidarski also demanded an increase in health insurances to at least eight per cent of the income. The ruling Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) rejected his suggestion.
