Bulgaria Prosecutors Approached over 'Siphoning' in Health Fund

Health | September 30, 2010, Thursday // 13:00|  views

File photo by Sofia Photo Agency

The Bulgarian Doctors' Union have called on prosecutors to launch a probe into the accounts of the state Health Insurance Fund, claiming BGN 319 M went missing from them in 2009.

All employed and self-employed Bulgarians are obliged to make monthly contributions of 8% of their income for health care services, which flow into the budget of the Health Insurance Fund.

"The lack of money is apparently the result of large-scale schemes for siphoning public funds, which definitely have not been used for health care services," reads the letter to the senior prosecutor, signed by the Union chief Dr Tsvetan Raichinov.

The move comes after the center-right ruling party GERB checked the attempts of the opposition to set up a parliamentary commission to look into the Health Fund coffers.

The government has come under tremendous criticism for foot-dragging in health care reforms as the National Health Insurance Fund has had to receive additional subsidies from the state budget, and the government has discussed shutting down dozens of hospitals in small towns around the country.

In mid September, the Doctors' Union declared they will stage a national protest on October 15, 2010, demanding the resignations of the Health Minister and the Finance Minister over the troubles in the health sector.

Health Minister Anna-Maria Borisova gave in to calls for her resignation and quit on Wednesday in the face of the public anger.

Meanwhile the opposition socialists are preparing a no confidence vote against the government because of its public health policy.

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Tags: Anna-Maria Borisova, health minister, resignation, Boyko Borisov, Prime Minister, Bulgarian Doctors' Union, Health Insurance Fund

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