Bolivia's National Health Fund faces intensified oversight after 176 million boliviano corruption scandal

Deputy Julieta Jiménez announced that the Caja Nacional de Salud (CNS) will undergo reinforced fiscal oversight following the exposure of a corruption scheme involving roughly 176 million bolivianos. She urged a full intervention of the agency, calling for audits by the Contraloría General del Estado, the Ministry of Economy and the Justice Ministry. Jiménez cited the irregular use of funds, the absence of proper bidding processes for seven months, and the possibility of uncovering a “Pandora’s box” of further misconduct.

The investigation was bolstered by documentation presented by fellow deputy Andrea Ballivián, which detailed misappropriated advances from the National Emergency Plan and highlighted that 44 million bolivianos had reached personal accounts of five officials. The deputies demanded that the Health Minister, Marcela Flores, be questioned and criticized procedural shortcomings during the interpellation process.