Bulgarian Health Minister Reports Hefty Hospital Debt

Desislava Atanasova is the fourth Health Minister in the cabinet of the ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB. Photo by BGNES

The debt of Bulgarian hospitals for years back has totaled BGN 378 M, according to the country's new Health Minister, Desislava Atanasova.

Speaking Friday for the State TV BNT, the Minister explained that BGN 70 M of them are default payments, while the debt has been accumulated because of poor management, and provision of medical treatment to people without health insurance.

Atanasova informed that university and regional hospitals have contributed the most to the staggering debt, saying her institution will ask the latter to prepare recovery plans and threatened replacement of their management if needed.

According to the Health Minister, the measures against those who do not make health insurance contributions are ineffective and must be amended.

Commenting on the expected shortage of BGN 5 M for medical treatment of sick children abroad after the cabinet lifted the cap of BGN 180 000, she voiced hope that there would not be many such children.

Atanasova explained that if there is shortage, she would seek reserves within the Ministry, and if they would still turn out not being enough, she will present documentation that would convince Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, to slate more funding.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!