Bulgarian Health Minister reveals reasons for Chief Inspector's resignation

Bulgarian Health Minister Katya Ivkova has disclosed details regarding the resignation of Chief State Health Inspector Angel Kunchev. Ivkova stated that Kunchev submitted his resignation personally, noting that he had previously expressed intentions to retire due to his eligibility for pension.

Ivkov also revealed that she received signals suggesting Kunchev may have exerted influence over a public procurement procedure for mosquito population control. She confirmed that these signals have been forwarded to the competent authorities for investigation. Additionally, the Minister noted that Kunchev held a second employment contract with the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases.

In response, Angel Kunchev described the Minister’s statements as manipulative attempts to discredit his professional reputation. He clarified that his role at the National Center for Infectious and Parasitic Diseases is a declared position as an associate professor of epidemiology, earning approximately 300 euros for teaching duties. Kunchev maintained that this role does not grant him authority over the Center’s decisions or procurement processes. He further stated he has no knowledge of any official investigation regarding the mosquito control tender and denied involvement in preparing documentation or evaluating offers.