In the first nine months of the year, seven EU member states have requested 168 million euros in reimbursements from Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), NHIF told a news conference on Friday.

The money will cover the hospital treatment of 195 Bulgarian citizens in these countries. The citizens used medical services abroad through a health-insurance card or a substitutive certificate.

Since the beginning of the year, the NHIF has issued 150 000 health insurance cards.

During the same period 79 Bulgarians have requested 36 000 euros in reimbursement for emergency treatment within the EU. Since this group of citizens covered their expenses on their own, the NHIF will compensate only the sums payable by the NHIF counterpart in the respective country.

At the same time, a total of 352 foreign citizens have undergone emergency treatment in Bulgaria. The NHIF paid 211 000 leva thereof. This spending is to be reinstated by the health insurance authorities in the countries of patients' origin.

The NHIF expects 1.4 billion leva in health insurance contributions this year.