Digital Competitiveness of the Healthcare System in Bulgaria

Abstract

This paper examines the digital competitiveness of Bulgaria’s healthcare sector and its main objective is to assess the sector’s level of digitalization through the development and application of a Digital Readiness Index for Healthcare. The empirical analysis is based on a national survey conducted among different types of organizations. The survey examines key aspects such as the use of electronic health records, telemedicine, online services, IT infrastructure, staff skills, and common implementation barriers. This research addresses a gap in the literature by providing a sector-specific, data-driven assessment of digital readiness in healthcare within the context of an emerging economy. The findings reveal that digitalization has a measurable impact on patient satisfaction, service quality, and operational efficiency, and outlines the factors that support digital advancement, as well as main challenges. The results underscore that digital readiness is a crucial driver of competitiveness in the healthcare and in the overall socio-economic system