[size=75:1icudu29]novinite November 23, 2009

Bulgaria Children's Treatment Fund Failed to Use BGN 25 M

The Bulgarian National Audit Office (NAO) has reported that BGN 25 M of the money given by the State over the last 3 years for treatment of children abroad has not been used.

The NAO reported that from 2005 to 2008 the total amount of state funding for the treatment of ill children in foreign clinics/hospitals was BGN 9,5 M and BGN 2 M from donations. BGN 20 M was added to the fund in October 2008. Overall only BGN 6,3 M was spent.

It is unclear exactly how many children were helped by the fund as the most of the applicant database has gone missing. The report stated that the decision as to whether a child had the right to be treated abroad was often delayed for months. Sometimes, while waiting, the children turned 18 and automatically lost this right and in 3 cases the children died.

The NAO has now proposed to the government that the fund should be regulated by the Health Law.

[size=75:19nl468m]novinite November 24, 2009

Bulgaria Treatment Fund Head Denies Guilt for Children's Deaths

The Chairman of the Bulgaria Fund for treatment of children abroad, Dr. Nikolay Dobrev, has denied reports that some children who needed treatment had not received money from the Fund.

Dobrev, speaking on Bulgarian National Television, stated that despite the reports Monday that 3 children had died while waiting for money from the Fund, in fact all children who required funding had been provided for.

Dobrev was replying to a report released by the National Audit Office (NAO) Monday that informed that BGN 25 M of the money given by the State over the last 3 years for treatment of children abroad was not used.

The NAO reported that from 2005 to 2008 the total amount of state funding for the treatment of ill children in foreign clinics/hospitals was BGN 9,5 M and BGN 2 M from donations. BGN 20 M was added to the fund in October 2008. Overall only BGN 6,3 M was spent.

It is unclear exactly how many children were helped by the fund as the most of the applicant database has gone missing. The report stated that the decision as to whether a child had the right to be treated abroad was often delayed for months.

The NAO has now proposed to the government that the fund should be regulated by the Health Law.

This is very sad but lets hope the money now goes where it should

This is indeed sad consider the many organisation that need the money desperatly Still lets try to be a little more positive, now this has been brought into the light, perhaps more establishments will benefit.

Oddy

I hope this money now gets to where it should be but its hard to believe that this money has not been allowed to improve the lives of the children lets keep our fingers crossed that it will from now on

sarah

I'm with you on this I too hope that the children in need get this cash that is much needed