Policy challenges to the quality of child health services in Bulgaria

Background: Our study aimed to explore policy challenges to the quality of child health services in Bulgaria.

Methods: The study was based on qualitative in-depth interviews, analysis of regulatory documents, and review of the literature. Respondents included policy-makers, providers and users of health services, from both rural and urban areas.

Results: Problems identified included insufficient training of general practitioners, medical errors, delays in response to emergencies, inadequate information provided to patients, and underdeveloped child public health. A common view was that paediatricians provide better quality care than general practitioners. Respondents described a lack of clinical guidelines for rational use of pharmaceuticals, overprescribing of antibiotics, reliance on pharmaceutical companies for information, and unrestricted sales of drugs over-the-counter. ‘Clinical pathways’, introduced as a payment mechanism in hospitals, were perceived as lacking transparency, complicating clinical practice, and forcing doctors to record wrong diagnoses and conduct unnecessary investigations.

Conclusions: Our findings indicate the need to develop evidence-based clinical guidelines for primary and secondary care, establish payment mechanisms that facilitate quality improvements, promote rational use of pharmaceuticals, improve continuing training of physicians and strengthen child public health.