site.btaHealth Insurance Fund Leadership Quits Following Parliamentary Move to End Its Term

National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Governor Petko Stefanovski submitted his resignation Wednesday and his deputy Momchil Mavrov followed suit later the same day. Both resignations were announced by the Fund's press centre. 

They came a day after the parliamentary group of the ruling party, Progressive Bulgaria, submitted draft resolutions to Parliament seeking the early termination of the tenure of both Stefanovski and his deputy Momchil Mavrov. Subsequently, Democratic Bulgaria called for the resignation of NHIF Deputy Governor Momchil Mavrov, as a matter of priority whom the coalition described as “one of the symbols of corrupt practices in Bulgarian healthcare”. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms backs the dismissal of the entire NHIF leadership.

The NHIF announcement for Stefanovski's resignation quoted him as saying: “It is clear to everyone that I do not have the political support necessary to work calmly and without causing turbulence in the system. I believe that my resignation is the right decision. Healthcare needs calm, stability and predictability.” 

He added that he and his team had accomplished a great deal, including the digitalization and electronic modernization of processes within the NHIF.

Mavrov too is quoted as saying that he resigned because "it is unthinkable to work without political trust". 

Democratic Bulgaria Deputy Floor Leader Bozhidar Bozhanov said the NHIF governor's resignation should be voted in plenary only after Deputy Governor Momchil Mavrov is removed from office. Bozhanov argued that if NHIF Governor Petko Stefanovski's resignation were accepted first, Mavrov would become acting governor. He said Democratic Bulgaria supported Stefanovski's resignation but believed he should remain in office until a new governor was elected.

In a related development, the parliamentary Committee on Healthcare decided Wednesday to give the competent institutions seven days to submit opinions on draft resolutions seeking the early dismissal of the National Health Insurance Fund's governor and deputy governor. After that Parliament would decide on the matter

Committee Chair GERB-UDF MP Kostadin Angelov said the draft resolutions had been referred to the committee and proposed collecting opinions from institutions and non-governmental organizations before they are considered.

Angelov argued that the NHIF governor would continue performing his duties until Parliament voted on his resignation. He added that a procedure to fill the positions could begin only after they became vacant.

Democratic Bulgaria also said that the parliamentary majority is now expected to act not only to vote on the requested resignation of Mavrov but also to prevent the “reloading of the status quo” in healthcare.

“One of the central topics today is the budget deficit, but we cannot talk about a deficit while we are turning a blind eye to the leaks and failing to stop the taps through which health insurance contributions are flowing out,” Bozhanov said, describing the NHIF as such a “tap.”

He said the Fund manages resources of around EUR 5 billion, yet patients continue to pay twice - once through health insurance contributions and again out of their pockets. Out-of-pocket payments in Bulgaria account for 36% of all healthcare spending, the highest share in the European Union, he added. 

A failed SANS report motion

A proposal by Democratic Bulgaria to include in Wednesday’s parliamentary agenda a draft resolution requiring the  State Agency for National Security (SANS) chair to provide information and conduct audits of the activities of NHIF Deputy Governor Momchil Mavrov did not make it to a vote.

Kostadin Angelov said that his party has no worried what the report would say. He insisted that GERB-UDF had never opposed the release of SANS information but stressed that disclosure must follow the procedures set out in law.

Representatives of Progressive Bulgaria and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, who are members of the Committee, declined to comment on the resignation submitted by Stefanovski.