Boyko Penkov

The state will pay BGN 10 (EUR 5) to doctors for the administration of each COVID-19 vaccine dose. 

Since the vaccines require two doses, this means that a doctor will take BGN 20 per each vaccinated person.

By order of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, a Medical Council with the Council of Ministers has been set up, said the government press office, reported by Focus News Agency.
The council, headed by Prof. Dr. Kosta Kostov, consists of 16 experts in the major medical specialties, which are relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 and its organ complications.

Pharmacies remain in protest readiness. This was said by Anton Valev, chairman of the National Pharmacy Chamber, after a meeting with Deputy Minister of Health Boyko Penkov. Valev stressed that pharmacies would not close, but the pharmacists would be with yellow vests.
 

Representatives of the Council of Europe's Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) held high-level talks with the Bulgarian authorities in Sofia on 15 January 2019.

A midwife at a hospital in Bulgaria's capital Sofia is now under arrest after inflicting grievous bodily harm on a newborn baby this week.

The measure is imposed for 72 hours (until Sunday), but prosecution is expected to request that she remain in detention.

Deputy Health Minister and National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) Chairman Boyko Penkov announced funding in the sector could only provide salaries until December.

The minister in resignation said Thursday that the fund would not be able to make any payments from December 1 unless healthcare expenditures in the national budget are updated.

A state grant for debt-ridden National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) amounting to BGN 200 M (EUR 100 M) could be allocated, NZOK's Supervisory Council says.

The fund might receive a sum between BGN 160 and 200 M within a brief period, the Council's Chairman Boyko Penkov announced after a meeting with representatives of the Bulgarian Medical Association.

The National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK) might have to cut the funding for Bulgaria's state hospitals by half starting August, reports Sega daily. 

The reason for this is the serious budget deficit of NZOK, estimated at a little over BGN 328 M. 

On Monday the supervisory board of NZOK asked the Government and Parliament to grant additional funding from the state budget. 

Bulgaria's Health Insurance Fund reserve of BGN 1.4B has been spent on pensions during GERB's office, according to Deputy Health Minister Dr. Boyko Penkov.

The answer came from GERB MPs, members of the parliamentary Budget Committee, after many requests from the Healthcare Committee, Bulgarian National Radio informs.