Bulgaria’s Fight Against Rising Food Prices Continues with Second Boycott on February 20
Public pressure over rising food prices will continue as civil movements in Bulgaria prepare for a second boycott of retail chains on February 20
Bulgaria's Health Minister, Stefan Konstantinov, announced Thursday that he had alerted the Chief Prosecutor about irregularities in contracts for medications sealed by the National Health Insurance Fund, NZOK.
The move came after it emerged in recent days that NZOK had paid BGN 6 M more for medications in 2011, compared to 2010, when the signing of the contracts was under the authority of the Health Ministry. Some of the medications had a price that skyrocketed 10 or more times in 2011.
In an interview for the private bTV, Konstantinov reiterated he did not know about the more costly medications and was guilty only of overly trusting his now-dismissed Deputy, Gergana Pavlova, who was in charge of the medication policy of the institution. He also declared he is subject to constant attacks because he refused to be part of any scams. He explained that this was the precise reason why he refuses to resign i.e. admit the victory of those who are draining NZOK.
Borisov's Deputy and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, cast strong doubt that Konstantinov did not know about these prices, saying it would be as he was to say he did not know the percentage of the interest rates.
In response, the Health Minister launched a counterattack, stressing that Djankov had been much closer to his two Deputies, appointed way before he took over the Ministry, and that information usually reached the Finance Minister much faster.
According to Konstantinov, it was NZOK which should have protected the interests of the Ministry and of patients.
Meanwhile, Chief Prosecutor, Boris Velchev, confirmed he had ordered a probe in the case, and promised that if there is established evidence of a crime, there would be a Court trial.
Velchev reminded that the Prosecutor's Office is competent in the Penal Code, not medication price policies.
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