BMA accuses the Health Ministry of having spent BGN 84 mln immorally

“We have information on what the money was spent for only BGN 256 mln out of last year’s BGN 340 mln transfer of the National Healthcare Insurance Fund (NHIF) to the Ministry of Health, ,” Dr. Tsvetan Raichinov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Medical Association (BMA), said today. It turns out that it is not clear how BGN 84 mln were spent. “An inspection of BMA confirmed suspicions that money from the health insurance instalments of Bulgarians was used to finance medical services provided to uninsured citizens – emergency medical aid, intensive healthcare, immunisations and even methadone treatment of drug addicts,” specified Dr. Raichinov. He commented that the Health Insurance Act stipulates that the money from healthcare insurance contributions should be spent only for medical services to insured people. At the same time, the Budget Act allows the Ministry of Health to spend the money from NHIF’s transfers at its own discretion. Therefore, it is not clear whether this practice is legal, but is certainly not moral, added Dr. Raichinov. He was adamant that funds from NHIF should not be transferred to the Ministry of Health. “Such a practice - of the healthcare fund sponsoring the Ministry - does not exist anywhere in Europe. The situation is just the reverse,” said Dr. Raichinov. “We are witnessing constant shilly-shallying on the part of Health Minister Dr. Stefan Konstantinov on the issue of bonuses. So far, we do not know how much money has been distributed to officials or on the basis of what criteria,” pointed out Dr. Raichinov. He presumed that the bonuses within the Health Ministry could exceed the aggregate amount distributed in the other ministries and institutions. BMA’s head addressed PM Boyko Borissov with the recommendation: “If morality is placed above everything, this should apply to everybody. Minister Dr. Stefan Konstantinov should resign because of the bonuses distributed in accordance with obscure criteria and the high prices of medicines,” said Dr. Raichinov, pointing out that this is his personal opinion and not a position of the BMA.

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