Bulgarian Ministry of Health accused of stalling National Children's Hospital project

Desislava Malinova, the dismissed executive director of the Health Investment Company for Children's Hospital (ZIKDB), has accused the Bulgarian Ministry of Health of indefinitely postponing the construction of the National Children's Hospital due to political interests and appointments.

Malinova claims that the government's justifications regarding “legal deadlock” and “wastefulness” are fabricated. She asserts that the project was halted following a complaint from a design firm to the Commission for Protection of Competition, and that a final ruling from the Supreme Administrative Court is expected on September 15. Malinova has challenged Health Minister Katya Ivkova to take political responsibility and resign if the court rejects the ministry's claims of legal deadlock.

Following the leadership change, Prof. Elena Peneva-Zlatkova has been appointed as the new executive director of ZIKDB. The restructuring also includes Rumen Tsekov as chairman of the Board of Directors and Vasil Rakov as deputy chairman, replacing the previous leadership team.