TEAM in the media about the economy, incomes and necessary reforms in 2019

Despite the festive mood in December, the experts from the EKIP again actively participated in the public debate on the topics of healthcare, the 2019 budget, and freedom of speech.

The month began with the participation of EKIP's editor-in-chief Georgi Vuldjev in the show " Q&A with Klara Marinova ", where he commented on the economic factors behind the November protests, political stability, how likely it is that there will be early elections, as well as why Bulgaria's economic growth rate is decreasing.

On the air of Europe TV, in the Business Daily program, Vuldjev also shared his expectations for the implementation of the 2019 budget and Bulgaria's economy in the new year. He emphasized the increase in the tax burden and social security payments as the main threat to the labor market.

Stoyan Panchev and Mika Zaikova commented on the incomes of Bulgarians to Bulgaria ON AIR. Both were of the opinion that the problems come from the public sector. Stoyan Panchev emphasized the need for pension and health reform: "The pension system is the mechanism through which we should be able to save the most. We should have a personal account in which our money is kept. Everyone should be able to check how much money has been saved."

In the program " Plus-Minus: The Commentary After the News " on Nova TV, Stoyan Panchev opposed the proposal of Ivaylo Tsvetkov "Noizy" to have the internet cost at least 50 leva per month as a measure against "a bunch of rudimentary problems in our country for the current situation". The chairman of the BLO added that the effects of such an idea would be similar to those of the minimum wage: "When the minimum wage is increased, the access of working people to jobs is limited. This is the economic connection. And if this is a radical economic measure, for me the minimum wage is also one."

In December, our health economist Arkadi Sharkov once again stood out with active media participation. Sharkov commented on the project for a national pediatric hospital in front of Bulgaria ON AIR. According to him, a detailed analysis should be made of how exactly this project should be implemented.

His voice was also heard on the Bulgarian National Radio with a comment on the topic of the rapid change of the decision of the Ministry of Health and the supervision of the NHIF - maintaining the 2 leva fees for pharmacies for processing protocols for free medicines. According to Sharkov, this is a completely political decision and has nothing to do with fundamental economic considerations.

Also, the Economist magazine interviewed Arkady Sharkov about the NHIF budget and what health reforms are possible in the future. Read the full text here. Meanwhile, the website zdrave.net reflected his position that the NHIF should not sign contracts with hospitals that perform one operation per year.

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