Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Fund leadership election begins

The Bulgarian National Assembly has opened the procedure to elect a new manager and deputy manager of the National Health Insurance Fund (NZOK). Parliamentary groups may submit candidates until 12 August 2026, after which nominees will be vetted for former State Security ties and presented to the Health Committee for hearings. A majority of deputies present is required for election to a five‑year term.

Current leaders resigned earlier this year: manager Petko Stefanovski and deputy Momchil Mavrov. A second deputy, Asen Medzhiev, has already been appointed to a post created in 2025 but left vacant for almost a year. Proposals under discussion include reducing the number of deputy managers from two to one and a request to present a digitalisation concept, which was rejected by Democratic Bulgaria. Additional procedural rules for candidate nomination and public disclosure are being debated alongside unrelated legislative amendments.

The outcome will shape the governance of Bulgaria’s principal health‑insurance institution and may affect future administrative reforms.