The National Statistical Institute has started work on the project ‘European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 2027 feasibility study for people living in institutions’

The National Statistical Institute has started work on the project ‘European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) 2027 feasibility study for people living in institutions’ in October 2026. The implementation of the project is in accordance with the Grant Agreement with the European Commission No. 101326598 - 2025-BG-EHIS.

The project aims to assess the feasibility of including people living in institutions in future rounds of the European Health Interview Survey. Currently, this group is not covered by any household-based surveys, which limits the ability to obtain a complete and accurate picture of health and disability across the entire population. Conducting a feasibility study will help to determine whether such inclusion is practicable and how to design the data collection to ensure successful implementation.

A key challenge lies in developing a sampling frame for individuals living in institutions. Existing sources, such as the population census, provide valuable information but are insufficient for compiling a comprehensive list of institutions and the individuals residing in them. Further complexity arises from the need to distinguish between health care and social care facilities. In this regard, the project plans to examine administrative registers maintained by the Ministry of Health, the Social Assistance Agency, and the Agency for Quality of Social Services.

The project team will also address the legal, ethical, and logistical aspects of conducting interviews within institutions.

The duration of the project is 17 months, and it is planned to end in February 2028.