If debts are not taken care of, 16 Bulgarian hospitals will face prosecution. The hospitals owe 35 million leva for medical supplies and 3.5 million leva interest to the distributing company Trade League. The company gave hospitals a three-day term, which finished yesterday. Among the medical institutions that face trial are major hospitals in Plovdiv, Varna, Pleven and Stara Zagora. Pirogov emergency hospital and the national cardiological hospital in Sofia also owe money, 24 Chassa daily reported.
Representatives of the Trade League said that they expected the situation to worsen in 2006. The lack of structural changes to hospital financing will rapidly deplete resources. Representatives of medical supply distribution companies requested a meeting with Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski and Health Minister Radoslav Gaidarski. Gaidarski said that prosecutors should investigate how hospitals managed to accumulate such huge debts. Inspections will begin at hospitals in various cities today.