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even phone your preferred doctor to explain if you are having problems registering (my doctor was unsure about whether I was paying into the system in BG or the UK). On the form it's all the usual name, DOB, address etc plus your number from the health insurance form. Then you write down your doctor's details. Take it to the doctor who enters all the info online and prints it out. They stamp the form and you sign several copies one of which is for you. Job done. Keep some photocopies of the documents with you as when I went for a blood test the nurse wanted a copy of my insurance form.

The NHIF payments are due in January each year, and so far I've found it easiest just to return to the Gabrovo office where I initially paid, go to the payment desk with my previous year's form and just ask to pay for the coming year.

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BULGARIAN EHIC CARD

Once you pay into the healthcare system you are entitled to a free Bulgarian EHIC card to be used when travelling to other EU member states, and other countries with the reciprocal healthcare agreement. There is a link at the bottom of the page where you can print off the form. Take the completed form and a photocopy of your lichna card (signed with a statement that this is indeed your own lichna card) to any branch of DSK at least 15 days before you plan to travel. You then collect the card from there when it's ready. Bulgarian cards are valid for one year only so you'll need a new one each year.

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VILLAGE DOCTOR

Doctor Diana Boteva comes to Gostilitsa on Monday morning (8am-11noon) and Tuesday afternoon (1pm-3pm). Her surgery is at the rear of the special needs home on the corner down from Didi's shop.  Be aware though that she may leave early if there are no patients waiting to see her.  Go through the gate into the grounds of the home and follow the path along the right hand side of the building. At the back turn left up some steps and enter the building. This is the waiting room. If there's no one else waiting, go through the door directly in front of you and knock on the door on the left. Patients in Bulgaria are usually seen in the order they arrive in, so it is common to ask who was the last to arrive (koi e posledniat) then you know who you are after in the queue.

Dr Diana is very friendly and speaks some English. You can also see her at her other surgery in the hospital in Dryanovo. Go into the hospital car park and walk up the sloping ramp leading to a rear door. Go through these doors and take the first corridor on the right. Her office is room number 218 along here on the right. Her hours here are Mon 1pm-5pm, Weds 1pm-5pm, Thurs 8am-10am and Fri 8am-11.30am.

Although GPs can deal with some ailments you will often be referred on to a specialist, e.g. ENT doctor. It's common for the patient to be left to contact the specialist themselves and to make arrangements to see them, though your GP will hopefully be able to recommend someone to you. It's important that you get a направление (right to free treatment) form from your GP before seeing a specialist or else you'll be treated as a private patient and have to pay full cost.

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OSTEOPATH

Julian, a fully qualified osteopath, works from premises in the village. He may be contacted via Facebook by clicking here.

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DENTIST

There are numerous private clinics in all the towns and if you ask around, people will be able to recommend one based on personal experience.  When I first arrived here I soon needed a root canal doing, and went to Dr Doseva in Dryanovo.  Keep the hospital on your right side and walk along the pavement which runs under a covered section.  You will now see some steps going up to a building on the right (I think the sign on the door is some sort of social department).  Keep walking and on the next building you will see a white PVC door and a big sign saying Dental Surgery. Her assistant speaks some English.  Remember to put on the little blue shoe covers as you walk in (from the чисти basket). Depending on how much work you need doing, you may need to make an appointment but waiting times are not long.

 

Once you pay into the healthcare system you are entitled to one general check-up per year and three treatments (fillings/extractions with anaesthetic). You'll still have to pay a contribution towards the cost of materials used. Not all dentists have an agreement with the NHIF, so check that your dentist does if you want to take advantage of your entitlements.  The dentist I see is  Dr Yordanov based in the hospital in Dryanovo.  Go to the front entrance of the hospital and up two flights of stairs. You will see the two dental surgery rooms directly in front of you (usually there are some kind of tooth product adverts in the vicinity). Dr Yordanov is the door on the right. Currently operating Mon-Fri 8am-12noon, and Mon & Weds 3pm-6pm. Take your NHIF documents along and they will sort you out with a little blue book which is a record of your visits. As with the doctor you usually just wait in line for your turn, but you may be given a specific return appointment e.g. for having a crown fitted.

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HOSPITALS (See maps below)

X-RAYS

If you do go to the dentist in Dryanovo you may find that you need an x-ray doing.  This can take place at the hospital. The dentist will give you a blank x-ray in a little envelope which you take to the x-ray department.  On the ground floor of the hospital to the right of the stairs you should see a sign saying РЕНТГЕНОВ which means the x-ray department.  Follow the arrow which should lead past the right side of the stairs and then turn right down a corridor.  You might have to look in a few rooms but approximately the third one along will be the office with the technician.  She's a lovely lady who will take the x-ray and lead you to the room where it's taken.  You then wait for it to be developed and pay for it.  My x-ray of a tooth when I was having root canal work cost 3 levs and an x-ray of my ankle cost 5 lev (2012).  The department is open from about 8.30am till 11am.

When I broke my ankle I was lucky to be examined by a nurse in the village who then wrote a request for x-rays for me.  The radiographer examined the x-rays and saw that there was a break in a bone, at which point she informed the orthopedic doctor on duty to begin the process of having the break fixed.

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As in the UK you might need to go to a certain hospital for specific needs. If possible speak to your GP first who will recommend which hospital you need. If it's something serious then you might be as well to call an ambulance (tel. 112). There is an emergency department at the Dryanovo hospital, click here for information on what they can deal with.

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BROKEN BONE (Dryanovo)

The orthopedic doctor is there several times a week.  Don't be surprised when you arrive for your appointment if you are asked to first purchase the necessary medical items from a chemist.  This, I think, is to replenish supplies in the surgery.  Luckily I was with a friend who could go to the chemist for me whilst the doctor began applying a cast to my leg.  I imagine if you turned up alone you would just pay for what supplies you used.  Crutches also needed to be purchased and be aware that Dryanovo doesn't appear to have any.  If you suspect you might need them, you might be better going to one of the larger hospitals in Veliko Tarnovo, Sevlievo or Gabrovo.

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SEEING A SPECIALIST

I'm writing this just based on my experience and not from any official source.  In my case, looking for an ENT doctor, I had to ask around for recommendations before going to see the guy at his office without an appointment. If you do it this way you will in effect be paying privately (around 25 levs for the first consultaion). I got what's called a 'направление' from Dr Diana which is a form giving you the right to treatment under the NHIF (presuming you pay into it). If you take that to the specialist you only pay 2.90 tax for the visit. Once you are being seen by the specialist, any further treatment he/she deems necessary is then covered by the NHIF - to a degree!

I think it depends on how life threatening the condition is as to how much the health service pay and how much you have to contribute. In my case it wasn't a serious problem, so my contribution for deviated septum reconstruction (and whatever else he may have done to correct my breathing) came to 350 levs, plus a small fee for each night's stay in the hospital. Bear in mind that this was actually a private hospital though one which does take NHIF patients. Not all private hospitals do this, so check their websites carefully.

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STAYING IN HOSPITAL - WHAT TO TAKE

Again, every hospital may differ, and I definitely read that at some you will need to take your own sheets and pillowcase. You must have toiletries, night wear, slippers and your lichna card. DO take a good supply of water/squash etc with you and a cup, though you may find, like me, that the tap water is drinkable. They may not regularly provide you with anything to drink.

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CHEMISTS

There are lots of chemists in every town - look for the green cross and the work АПТЕКА (apteka). Although you may receive what looks like a prescription from a doctor, this is in fact just a list of what you need, and you will have to pay for the items individually. Unlike in the UK you won't be able to buy everyday items such as aspirin from supermarkets, only from chemists.

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USEFUL LINKS:

Information about the NHIF

Information and application for a Bulgarian EHIC card  Once you open this page, look under the first heading where you will see DOC PDF Click on this to open the application form. The lower paragraphs on the page tell you how to complete the form.