The Bulgarian Parliament terminated early the term of the Director of the National Health Insurance Fund, NZOK, Dr Plamen Tsekov.

104 Members of the Parliament voted. All of them unanimously voted "for".

During the debate, the author of the draft decision to release Tsekov, the Parliament's Deputy Speaker, Maya Manolova, said that the Director of NZOK did not manage the money wisely. She stated the decision to dismiss Tsekov is not connected to his political affiliation to Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party.

"This is a total of more than BGN 3 B; these are not his personal funds; he did not manage them in the interests of the doctors and the patients in order to meet the basic objective of the national health insurance- guaranteeing that insured people have free access to medical care," Manolova, MP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party, BSP, said.

Tsekov stressed he has always respected the law and no one has been denied medical and hospital care. He noted that there has always been cash deficit, not only during his term.

"I leave with the feeling of a job well done. If the Bulgarian Medical Association wants my resignation, then you should listen to the people who want your resignation," he said during the debate.

Tsekov later told journalists that he was considering whether to dispute his early dismissal in court.

Meanwhile a www.novinite.bg reporter learned that Dr. Rumyana Todorova, one of Bulgaria's best skin specialists will be elected for the new head of NZOK in a few days. She led the National Health Insurance Fund during the time of the Three-Way Coalition as well.

Todorova is the sister of Bulgarian Socialist MEP, Iliyana Yotova.