The formal reason for the dismissal of the former director of the Fund for the Treatment of Children Pavel Alexandrov – which was welcomed as just another unpopular move of the Healthcare Minister Dr Tanya Andreeva – is the check that has just been completed. It was performed by inspectors of the healthcare ministry during former Minister Dr. Nikolai Petrov and it appears that the documentation concerning civil contracts, rental contracts and statements of work accomplished showed a number of gaps and irregularities.
For me, two things are unacceptable . One is that there was a delay of documents with more than 130 days for children who were awaiting a yes or no answer to the funding of their treatment. There were many civil contracts for activities with no need to be carried out outside of the fund by external experts, as the fund has enough administrative capacity itself. On top of that, the paid bonuses to people associated with these contracts were more logical to go for the treatment of children, said Minister Andreeva. In turn Alexandrov said that the allegations were absurd, as the public council to the Fund has met twice a month and there was no unexamined complaint. The practice of handing out bonuses ceased in 2010.
Both the minister and the dismissed head have their strong case, but the facts rather say that the decision to decapitate the fund was a little premature and irresponsible.
The institution was established in October 2004 to assist the financial and organizational management of children treated abroad in cases it can not be done in the country. Up to 2008 the applications for receiving aid were cumbersome. Families of sick children raised funds mainly tjhrough fundraising campaigns and fund returned the bulk of their money back into the budget. Kids died while waiting for approval of applications for their treatment, as a result of which the rules of procedure as well as the composition of the Public Council and the Director himself were replaced. In the period 2010-2012 the fund provided treatment to a total of 1378 children. By the end of September of this year it approved an additional 670 applications worth 8.4 million levs. However, some procedures are under threat because of the surprising management reshuffle. To reduce the cost of treatment abroad, Alexandrov and his team managed to negotiate up to a 50% price reduction in foreign clinics. So in the last months of its work the state was saving about 4 million levs. However, former director was fired without notice and explanation of the reasons.
Alexandrov is supported by patient organizations indicated that they would keep scrutinizing the actions of the newly elected Director Dr. Iva Stankova. They even threatened to protest at the slightest signal of inefficient operation. Desislava Hurmuzova who is a member of the Public Council to the fund said that the report of the inspection was a mere mockery and in the work of Alexandrov there were no gaps.
New Director Iva Stankova is a pediatricia , a former MP from the socialist party in the 40th National Assembly and member of the parliamentary healthcare committee. According to Minister Andreeva Mrs Stankova is competent to deal with the tasks and manage the fund well.
The BANKER
