Which Electronic Signature is Best for Your Dental Clinic? Quick Comparison for Bulgarian HIS Compliance

We purchased and tested all electronic signatures on the market — B-Trust (Borica), StampIt (Information Services), and InfoNotary — to help you make an informed choice.

Test results

We recommend the B-Trust (Borica) and StampIT (Information Services) signatures. B-Trust offers a physical signature for BGN 32 for three years, while StampIt’s price is BGN 34. Issuance takes about 15-20 minutes. Choose based on the convenience of their office locations — all you need is your ID card and a little time. At each location, we received attentive service.

Can I use a company signature?

Yes, if you already have a company QES, you can use it. If not, you can use a personal QES, as doctor identification is based on the Unique Citizenship Number (referred as EGN in Bulgarian), which is present in both types of signatures. It’s worth noting that company QES is around five times more expensive, though the issuance process is the same.

What’s the difference between the B-Trust, StampIt, and InfoNotary signatures?

There’s no difference in the signatures, only in price and registration time. All three companies use the same hardware (USB flash drive) and signatures from Gemalto (acquired by Thales in 2019).

Which device should I choose? Card readers or USB Type-A/Type-C?

There’s no significant difference for dental practitioners. Choose according to the available ports on your computer — you can use an adapter if needed for Type-A to Type-C.

Why Isn’t Evrotrust Included in the Test?

For the purposes of the Bulgarian Health Information System (HIS), we’re not entirely sure how integration would work with the Evrotrust signature, issued by Evrotrust Technologies AD, as it relies on mobile-based signing. In practice, every document sent to HIS needs to be signed, which means you would have to authorize each signature on your phone multiple times a day. This could significantly slow down the process and also increase costs.

Does every dentist in the clinic need a QES?

Each medical institution, including dental clinics, is required to submit data to the Bulgarian Health Information System (HIS) via electronic documents signed with a qualified electronic signature (QES) by the respective medical professional.

Therefore, each dentist in the clinic must have their own QES to sign and submit the required documents to Bulgarian HIS, ensuring the authenticity and responsibility of the submitted information.

For ease and better organization, it’s recommended that all dentists in the clinic obtain their QES at the same time. This simplifies managing expiration dates and prevents lapses in renewal. If needed, notarized powers of attorney can be used, allowing an authorized person to issue certificates on behalf of the doctors, saving time, effort, and waiting in line.

Can I submit data to Bulgarian HIS without an electronic signature?

Submitting data to the National Health Information System (HIS) requires the use of an electronic signature associated with the Unique citizenship number (referred as EGN in Bulgarian) of a registered doctor. According to Ordinance No. 1 of January 22, 2021, of the Ministry of Health, healthcare institutions are obliged to submit their health documentation to Bulgarian HIS in the form of an electronic document signed with a qualified electronic signature (QES).

Therefore, submitting data to Bulgarian HIS without an electronic signature or with a signature is not possible.

Can I use a company Signature for Bulgarian HIS?

As mentioned, a company QES can be used, but it is not mandatory.

How to get QES (Qualified Electronic Signature)?

To obtain a qualified electronic signature (QES) for an individual or legal entity, follow these steps:

• Choose a QES supplier - there are 5 licensed suppliers in Bulgaria. The most common networks are: Borika's B-Trust - Borica's offices and Information Service's StampIt - Information Service's offices.
• Carry an ID with you. No pre-registration required.

Fees:

• B-Trust: BGN 30, without VAT, for 3 years (includes USB drive).
• StampIt: BGN 31, without VAT, for 3 years (includes USB drive).

Where is an electronic signature issued?

In Bulgaria, qualified electronic signatures (QES) are issued by licensed providers. There are currently five such providers:

BORICA AD (B-Trust)

Offers QES issuance both online and on-site at their offices. You can apply for QES online and receive it at the address you specify through their online store. If you prefer a personal visit, a list of BORICA offices.

Information Service AD (StampIt)

Offers issuance of QES in its offices. The addresses of the offices can be found on their website.

InfoNotary EAD (InfoNotary)

Offers issuance of QES in its offices. A list of office addresses is available here.

Others that issue are:

Evrotrust Technologies AD (Evrotrust)

It offers a fully online issuance of the QES through a mobile application, without the need to visit an office. More information can be found on their website. But we are not sure how their signatures would work with NHIS.

Idocs Bulgaria EOOD (e-Docs.bg)

Information about this provider is limited and their site has not been updated since 2010. We are not sure how they issue their subsite. Therefore, it is unclear whether they still issue electronic signatures and whether their services are up to date.

If you wish to receive the QES on the same day, an on-site visit to the provider's office is the fastest option.

Electronic signature for individuals price

The prices, without VAT, for issuing a qualified electronic signature (QES) for individuals with a validity of 3 years and an included USB device (smart card and reader) vary depending on the provider:

• B-Trust (Borica AD): BGN 30.
• StampIT (Information Service AD): BGN 31.
• InfoNotary (Infonotary EAD): BGN 86.

Please note that prices are subject to change. It is recommended that you contact your chosen provider directly or visit their official website for the most up-to-date information for 30 Oct 2024.

Installing QES

The installation of QES depends on the hardware and operating system you are using. Each supplier provides detailed instructions on their website. Follow the instructions from the vendor to complete the installation successfully.

There are two main steps:

Install the hardware driver

For Card reader or USB device, you need to install the corresponding driver provided by the manufacturer.

Install the signature software

In order for the certificate to be recognized, install the software provided by the QES provider. This usually also includes installing the certificate itself.

Operating System Compatibility

All operating systems used in Bulgaria (Windows, MacOS, Linux) are supported by the issued electronic signatures. Install the driver corresponding to your operating system.