Health Inequalities in Bulgarian Society: Socio-Economic Determination

The article interprets the attitudes in Bulgarian society regarding equal access to healthcare and the assessment of health services quality. Socio-cultural and economic factors leading to distinct inequalities in the provision and receipt of this basic welfare care are thoroughly analyzed. The object of analysis is data obtained from an international comparative study conducted in parallel in more than 50 countries in compliance with uniform standards set by the International Program for Social Research (ISSP). Differences in access to health services and care based on some demographic characteristics, such as age, have been identified and discussed; significant links have been sought and found between material and social status and the degree of (in)tolerance towards the perception of health inequalities as social (in)justice. The general negative assessment and dissatisfaction with the services provided by the health care system, instead of creating readiness to increase the significance of health insurance, push people back and deepen the crisis of confidence in this vital for every society system.