In the National Health Insurance Institute apparently nothing is lost, only cash flows change direction. And so it should be – after the ministry decided to save on payments, why not invest more money in modernization, repairs, new equipment and comfort for their employees? Though, as things are going, soon there will be no one to be employed there especially after the insurance deficit reached 3.5 billion levs. In the last month the institute, however, went on a spending spree. In Rousse they are searching for a company to clean their administrative building] in Burgas – they will buy supplies for printers, copiers and office equipment, Silistra is securing the delivery of electricity and water. In Razgrad, Veliko Tarnovo, Lovech and Targovishte intensive repair works are under way.
As to the headquarters in Sofia, there is a true technological revolution going there. The Institute recently introduced three new e-services, on which a lot of money was spent. Naturally, the management was also looking well after its 4000-strong army of officials. After last year the staff office received bonuses totalling about 6.95 million levs for the good results achieved, now servants of the Central Government in the 28 regional offices and in the fund Guaranteed Receivables of Workers and Employees are to acquire a new system for managing human resources with an estimated price of 300 thousand levs without VAT. For servicing the internal network a sum of 80 thousand levs was allocated and spare parts for servers and computers will cost another 60 thousand levs to taxpayers. Only draft project for the hardware and software of the Contact Centre institution will swallow 20 thousand levs. In their breaks employees at will drink coffee in completely renovated English type courtyard under s heat and hydro insulation of a latest generation. This bundled with repair of the underground garage and stores will make the whole sum reach 120 thousand levs.
Obviously this is a tradition with the healthcare fund. The Supreme Audit Office found that in the period from 1 January 2011 to 30 September 2012 and, despite the change of three governors, the institute has conducted a total of 267 procedures under the Public Procurement Act for the award of small contracts, for which it concluded contracts for tens of millions of euros. Generally it was found that the fund follows the rules of the law, except for some minor offenses related to missed deadlines and requirements set incorrectly. But there is no rush when it comes to auctions, which may be of interest to their long-term partners. This category enlists Sofia Directorate of Internal Affairs, which in 2000 signed a contract to provide security and pass control to the main entrance of the building of the institute in Sofia. It was renewed with additional agreements nine times, although the annual value of more than 136 thousand levs without VAT requires a call for a tender.
A similar scenario is unfolding for the telecom services provider for the needs of the system of the Institute. The department contracted this with Bulgarian Telecommunications Company in December 2000 for a period of 12 months. To the document it subsequently signed a total of 23 annexes, mainly with a change in price. Only for 2011 the institute paid a total of 293,602 levs without VAT, and for the period January-September 2012 183,355 levs.
The BANKER
