There is a risk of losing 80 million euros under the Recovery Plan because of the medical helicopter system. It turns out that we are not managing the plan for building the bases in which to store them. In addition, a scandal broke out with screening tests for oncological diseases. The acting cabinet indicated that we are buying at ten-octave higher prices. The topic was commented on by Assoc. Prof. Mihail Okoliyski, acting Minister of Health.
„86.3 million euros is the amount we are talking about. In the last two years, almost no work has been done on creating the bases in which to house the helicopters. They represent an administrative building, a hangar and a space in general where these helicopters can be stored when not flying, so that the staff can work effectively, have a connection with the medical institutions from where the teams come“, the minister explained.
Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski specified that none of the bases have been started: “No, there is not one with a single brick, and the construction should be completed by June this year.“ Currently, the five available helicopters are stored in temporary bases, the last one being on the Black Sea coast. “All these helicopters should be used effectively with trained pilots and be based in the designated bases“, he added.
The investment for the machines themselves is 80 million euros, while the construction of the bases amounts to 6.3 million euros. Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski explained: “What we are currently trying to do is to separate this tragic situation with the construction from the investment for the machines themselves, so as not to lose the entire measure.“
Regarding the financing of the bases, the minister pointed out: “Well, it is personal to each citizen. This is the bad thing that this is digging into the pocket of each Bulgarian citizen. And these 6.3 million leva must be taken from the budget.“ As for the renegotiation of the plan with the European Commission, Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski explained: “Our attitude is that this is the only solution at the moment for the Ministry of Health, but it is far from certain that the European Commission will agree.“ Regarding those responsible for the delay, the minister specified: “I cannot say personally, many people. Many people who have not worked effectively enough.“
Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski also commented on the problems with screening tests for oncological diseases. “We are concerned that they were purchased at a tenfold higher price“, he said and specified that 51 thousand and 22 thousand tests were purchased for colorectal cancer and cervical cancer, respectively.
“In my opinion, there is a multiple increase in the price of colorectal cancer tests, because the prices achieved by the public procurement are not realistic in our opinion. There is an offer to an organization that has conducted a similar type of campaign with other tests, but for these FIT tests the price is 8 leva“, the minister explained.
Assoc. Okoliyski stressed that the problem is not only in the price, but also in the lack of procedures and contracts for conducting the tests: “There are no talks with the organization of general practitioners who must conduct the tests. This is not substantiated by a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund.“
The minister announced that a signal has already been submitted to the prosecutor's office: “We are submitting a signal, the signal is currently being finalized in the prosecutor's office, because of the screening programs.“ He added that there are serious concerns about possible violations in public procurement.
Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski indicated that his goal is to introduce order and leave a good legacy for the short two months of his office: “My goal for these two months is to establish some order, to leave a good legacy for the next ones who come in, so that they can conduct it, because we will not conduct the screening campaign, nor will we build the bases. But this must happen on the basis of the law, common sense. And ethics.“