"By mid-2025, all delayed medical expertises will be resolved", said Minister of Health Silvi Kirilov during his hearing in the plenary hall on problems of medical expertise activities by TELK and NELK.
Medical expertise is a combination of participation of many parties - hospitals, general practitioners, regional health inspectorates, TELK, postal operators, persons with disabilities, insurers, the National Social Security Institute, the Social Assistance Agency, people with disabilities, NELK, administrative courts, etc. and if one does not do their job on time, the process is delayed or even stopped, he also said.
Minister Kirilov pointed out that there are many problems in healthcare and medical expertise, but the most important thing has been done - a new regulatory framework has been created, which has been operating for six months now, and during this period technical problems are most often identified. There are ideas for improving the organization of the work of the territorial expert medical commissions, upgrading training for doctors working in the commissions is being considered, it is necessary to change some regulations, as well as to improve the coordination and financing of this activity, he also said. According to him, the assistance of the parliamentary committee on healthcare will also be sought to improve the overall activity.
When possible, an option to increase the number of medical expertise commissions will be considered, Minister Kirilov also said, but noted that it is not possible to create specialized expert medical commissions. In order to reduce the possibility of requiring additional examinations from the patient, we have engaged the attention of the Bulgarian Medical Union and the National Association of General Practitioners in Bulgaria, he also pointed out.
The regulatory changes that were made last year are due to the significant delay in expert opinions in some areas of the country, reaching 4-5 years. The measure that was taken is the creation of additional TELCs in state and municipal hospitals, including in complex oncology centers. The number of commissions has been increased from 70 to 139 at the moment, Minister Kirilov pointed out. Now 1,335 doctors work in TELCs. Last year, the expert opinions issued for reduced work capacity were over 243 thousand, he also pointed out. Over 92 thousand were issued in 2024 with a lifetime period. According to him, appeals against TELC decisions have decreased.