OECD Reviews of Health Systems: Bulgaria 2026

In recent decades, Bulgaria has seen significant improvements in life expectancy as well as in infant and maternal mortality. Despite these achievements, health status, risk factors for health, and the quality of care are worse compared to OECD countries. To address these weaknesses, Bulgaria has recently developed a strategic vision towards a more effective, integrated, and resilient health system, culminating in the adoption of the National Health Strategy 2030. Recent reforms have showed promising results in addressing shortages of healthcare professionals, improving the digitalisation of healthcare and fostering integrated care. However, Bulgaria still needs to address substantial challenges in order to improve population health, enhance the quality and safety of care, and build a more efficient and resilient healthcare system. This review assesses Bulgaria's efforts towards addressing these challenges and provides key policy recommendations for building a more equitable, efficient, and sustainable health system, identifying main areas for further alignment with OECD standards and best practices in the field of health.