Blagoevgrad lung hospital faces audit scandal and closure risk

The St. Ivan Rilski Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Pneumo-Phthisiatric Diseases in Blagoevgrad is facing a potential closure and intense scrutiny following an internal audit. The audit, conducted by the Blagoevgrad Municipality, identified seven major violations regarding public fund management, including the unauthorized payment of 108,900 BGN for food vouchers and social services without Municipal Council approval.

Further irregularities were found in staff compensation. Despite negative financial results in the second quarter of 2025, 116,456 BGN in material incentives were paid out, including 11,631 BGN to the manager without required authorization. Additionally, bonuses for non-medical staff exceeded the Ministry of Health’s recommended thresholds and internal hospital limits.

Separately, Mayor Metodi Baikushev warned that the hospital’s existence is threatened by sanctions imposed by the National Health Insurance Fund in 2021. These sanctions, which involve the termination of three key clinical pathways due to reporting activities that were not actually performed, were reportedly concealed from the municipality for four years. The hospital is currently awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Administrative Court.

Dr. Vladimir Pandev, the hospital’s head, has formally contested the audit findings. He challenged the expansion of the audit’s timeframe from the originally agreed period to a later date, citing it as a response to media pressure and public interest rather than the initial scope of the engagement.