Bulgaria investigates massive pharmaceutical fraud scheme

Bulgarian authorities, including the Ministry of Interior and the State Agency for National Security, have launched a large-scale investigation into a suspected pharmaceutical fraud scheme. The operation involves inspections of over 100 pharmacies and drug warehouses across 12 regions.

Investigators are examining allegations that expensive medications for chronic and oncological diseases were falsely reported as dispensed to patients and paid for by the National Health Insurance Fund, while actually being retained for resale or export. The suspected financial damages are estimated to reach millions of euros.

Legal and medical experts suggest the scheme may involve fraudulent diagnoses or the exploitation of social benefits. Prof. Momchil Mavrov, former deputy head of the National Health Insurance Fund, noted that current control mechanisms are insufficient due to incomplete data exchange between institutions such as the Ministry of Health, the National Revenue Agency, and customs. He emphasized the need for better digitalization and integrated information systems to detect such irregularities in real-time.