Health Minister Radoslav Gaidarski said that the ministry was working on a new anti-corruption strategy in healthcare institutions.

The strategy is part of the reforms Bulgaria should make in view if the country's EU accession, Focus news agency reported. The May 16 European Commission monitoring report on Bulgaria's readiness to join the union criticised corruption practices in healthcare and education.

The new anti-corruption system will impose stricter penalties for doctors receiving bribes. According to the drafted strategy, if sufficient corruption evidence exists, the medics might even be dismissed.

Gaidarski was present on the opening ceremony of a new ward in the Military Medical Academy. Commenting on the healthcare reforms, he said it was 'realistic' for Bulgarian hospitals to repay debts by the end of the year. On May 29 Gaidarski will meet Finance Minister Plamen Oresharski to define specific mechanisms to promote debt-repaying.

The state hospitals have accumulated considerable debts over the years for medial supplies. Gaidarski's ministry has been working on reforming the healthcare system and reducing hospital debts. One of the measures was dismissal of several hospital directors.