In the last three years, the CEO of the emergency hospital "Pirogov" in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, Prof. Dimitar Radenovski, has approved bonuses for employees in the amount of nearly BGN 2 M.

The information was announced Tuesday by the largest, private TV channel bTV, citing Health Minister, Desislava Atanasova, who pointed out the money was not part of any regular wages.

Atansova has ordered two probes at the hospital – one from the National Health Insurance Fund, NZOK, over overspending for medications paid for by NZOK, and the second – from the Inspectorate of the Health Ministry to check all overspending of funds.

According to Atanasova, about 9% of all funds received from the treatment of foreign citizens have been divided among several "Pirogov" employees – the Business Director, the Head Legal Councilor, and the Medical Secretary. She said that these three individuals have pocketed about BGN 50 000 – 60 000 a year.

Meanwhile, the NZOK Head, Dr. Plamen Zekov, told the media that such practices can be found in almost all hospitals in the country.

The probe at "Pirogov" has already established a number of violations such as "dummy" patients, lack of required exams, and documentation with many omissions.

Zekov informs that over the next two months the probe will involve all hospitals in the country that have contracts with NZOK.

The "Pirogov" management informs they will make official statements only after the probe concludes.

The top emergency hospital in Bulgaria is operating under deplorable conditions and chronic shortage of funds, medications, and consumables.