Economy & Business ISSN 1314-7242, Volume 9, 2015 Journal of International Scientific Publications www.scientific-publications.net ANALYSIS OF MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTHCARE IN BULGARIA Lidiya Stoykova-Chorbanova, Ralitsa Zlatanova-Velikova, Tihomira Zlatanova Medical University of Sofia, Faculty of Public Health, 1527 Sofia, Bulgaria Abstract Maternal and Child Health in Bulgaria is governed by regulations of the Minister of Health under Art. 45 of the Health Insurance Act - Regulation for prophylactic examinations and dispensary and Ordinance for the basic package of health services, which NHIF reimburses. These regulations comply with all modern achievements of medical science, as periodically updated. Subsequently, NHIF pays to contractors - GPs, specialists in pediatrics, gynecologists that are carrying out the direct business through the "Maternal health" and "Child Health" Programs. Regardless of the established organization for healthcare to children and pregnant women, the most important indicators of the country in recent years - prenatal infant mortality, births, post neonatal infant mortality and coverage of pregnant women with supervision until the 3rd lunar month - reveal that there are problems that have a serious impact on the health of those contingents. The article provides an analysis of existing problems and proposes an integrated medical and social approach to overcome them. Keywords: maternal health, child health problems, medical and social approach Health care for pregnant women, mothers up to the 45th day after birth and children up to '18 are governed by regulations of the Minister of Health under Art. 45 of the Health Insurance Act - Regulation for prophylactic examinations and dispensary and Ordinance for the basic package of health services, which NHIF reimburses. These regulations comply with all modern achievements of medical science, as periodically updated. Subsequently, NHIF pays to contractors - GPs, specialists in pediatrics, gynecologists, which are carrying out direct business through the "Maternal health" and "Child Health" programs. It includes examinations and tests to monitor the pregnancy to postpartum home visits for preventive examinations and dispensary of healthy children and children with chronic diseases. The aim of the programs is to provide a normal pregnancy and outcome for the mother and fetus, as well as monitoring and care for the development of healthy children and disease prevention in children. GPs and specialists in outpatient care have been imposed obligations to perform prophylactic activities before pregnancy, preconception consultation covering total prophylactic examination of those wishing to enter into marriage health insured persons and preparing the necessary documentation, information of both partners of certain diseases and genetic predisposition, explaining methods of family planning, detection and support for the timely removal of risk factors, bad habits and addictions (smoking, alcoholism, etc.), monthly surveys and the necessary research, guidelines for motor and food regime of pregnant and preparing for the birth process and many such functions in relation to child - feeding, immunizations, conducting consultations on the follow-up treatment, care for children with disabilities and children who have signs of violence and making contact with other institutions relevant to the problem. Regardless of the established organization for healthcare to children, pregnant women and mothers - the most important indicators of the country in recent years - prenatal infant mortality, births, post neonatal infant mortality and coverage of pregnant women with supervision until the 3rd lunar month - reveal that there are problems that have a serious impact on the health of those contingents. The main ones are: • Irregular territorial location of GP practices. There is an uneven distribution of medical practices with the presence of unfilled medical practices in small and remote settlements and neighborhoods with minority populations in many areas. Page 637