Bulgarian Health Insurance Head Donates Scandalous Bonus

The resigned Director of Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Fund, Neli Nesheva, has donated her bonus to disadvantaged children. Photo by BGNES

The discredited Bulgarian National Health Insurance Fund, NZOK, Director, Neli Nesheva, had fulfilled her promise to donate her scandalous bonus for charity.

The information was reported by NZOK's press office Tuesday.

The "Nesheva" scandal flared after Members of the Parliament from the right-wing Blue Coalition released for the media documents showing that all while NZOK is in shambles, its employees have received in 2011 over BGN 2 M in bonuses, of which BGN 30 000 went to its Head.

Nesheva, who admitted to receiving over BGN 12 000 of bonuses last year and - though claiming the money was well deserved - quit office on Friday under public, opposition, and Prime Minister, Boyko Borisov's pressure.

On Tuesday, she fulfilled her promise by signing a contract with a representative of "Children and Youth" Association in the presence of two attorneys.

The donor had voiced the will to support the operations of the Center for Homeless Children with the funds being used for food, clothing, medical services, education and access to sports facilities of these children.

Meanwhile, the National Association of Private Hospitals and the National Alliance of People with Rare Diseases joined Tuesday a number of others voicing support for Nesheva.

In the last few days, the Bulgarian Doctors Union, the Bulgarian Industrial Chamber, the Union of Multi-profile Hospitals, and the Parliamentary Committee on Health have declared their backing for her, and insisted that changes in NZOK leadership will unnecessarily shake the system.

They praise the NZOK Director for reinstating regular payments in the system, for the new medication policy which includes the possibility to negotiate discounts and the new methodology of payments to hospitals, which have increased transparency and reduced the lobbyist pressure.

Her supporters say the scandal was stirred on purpose by the pharmaceutical cartels in Bulgaria.

Also on Tuesday, the parliamentary group of ruling Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria party, GERB, is set to decide on Nesheva's fate.

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