Bulgaria Treatment Fund Head Denies Guilt for Children's Deaths

Dobrev was replying to a report released by the National Audit Office (NAO) Monday that informed that BGN 25 M of the money given by the State over the last 3 years for treatment of children abroad was not used. Photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The Chairman of the Bulgaria Fund for treatment of children abroad, Dr. Nikolay Dobrev, has denied reports that some children who needed treatment had not received money from the Fund.

Dobrev, speaking on Bulgarian National Television, stated that despite the reports Monday that 3 children had died while waiting for money from the Fund, in fact all children who required funding had been provided for.

Dobrev was replying to a report released by the National Audit Office (NAO) Monday that informed that BGN 25 M of the money given by the State over the last 3 years for treatment of children abroad was not used.

The NAO reported that from 2005 to 2008 the total amount of state funding for the treatment of ill children in foreign clinics/hospitals was BGN 9,5 M and BGN 2 M from donations. BGN 20 M was added to the fund in October 2008. Overall only BGN 6,3 M was spent.

It is unclear exactly how many children were helped by the fund as the most of the applicant database has gone missing. The report stated that the decision as to whether a child had the right to be treated abroad was often delayed for months.

The NAO has now proposed to the government that the fund should be regulated by the Health Law.

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