Bulgarian Health Minister Sacks Director of Varna Hospital

The management of the Varna hospital "St. Marina," denies any wrongdoing in the case of a patient who was brought to the facility with a shotgun wound. Photo by DarikNews.

The member of the Board of Directors of the Varna hospital "St. Marina," Krasimir Ivanov, has been released from his duties by an order of Health Minister, Anna-Maria Borisova.

The order also annuls the contract giving Ivanov rights to manage the facility.

Ivanov is replaced at the Board by Dr. Zhaneta Georgieva, until now Deputy Director, and a temporary management contract with her is pending. She will be Acting Director until a competition for the post is concluded.

The order does not list particular reasons for the reshuffle.

Media published reports last week that Ivanov failed to notify the police after a patient was brought to the hospital with a gunshot wound. The person in question is identified as Yordan Dimov AKA Yurkata, who was shot at the "Sunny Beach" resort, treated in a hospital in the other Black Sea city of Burgas and then transferred to Varna.

Days ago, the "St. Marina" management issued a statement denying any wrongdoing and violations of the law. They explained the patient has been listed according to the rules, and no employee of the Varna hospital had been present at the crime scene, had administered first help, had known how and why the incident occurred or how the man was transported to Varna. The authorities have requested information on the 6th day of the patient's stay and received full cooperation.

Ivanov did not answer his phone Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov, declared any high-ranking individual, who makes a mistake in his or her work will be dismissed, including the person behind the latest public procurement order scandal at the Health Ministry.

On Sunday, an investigative report of the TV channel bTV showed how someone published on the Ministry's official site an announcement of the tender for medical equipment on a letterhead of a particular company. It remains unclear who was the employee who did the publishing.

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