The MPs approved, at first reading, the update of the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which provides an additional 134 million Leva for healthcare.

Of this sum, 120 million is crucial because it is earmarked for addressing the new Covid-19 wave and curbing the epidemic. The money will be distributed by the NHIF’s supervisory board, which met with criticism by GERB party and the Movement for Rights and Freedoms.

Minister of Health Dr. Stoycho Katsarov denied accusations that the costs allocation will not be transparent. He described the management of the Covid-crisis by the previous government as “catastrophic” and added that the matter should be referred to the prosecutor’s office. His words came in response to accusations by former Minister of Health, now GERB MP, Prof. Kostadin Angelov that not enough money was being provided for front-line medical staff.