Blagoevgrad lung hospital financial and legal crisis

The St. Ivan Rilski Specialized Hospital for Active Treatment of Pneumo-Phthisiatric Diseases in Blagoevgrad is facing severe threats to its continued operation due to financial mismanagement, legal disputes, and potential sanctions.

An internal audit by the Blagoevgrad Municipality identified several major violations, including the unauthorized payment of 108,900 BGN for food vouchers and social services, as well as irregular staff compensation and bonuses that exceeded recommended thresholds. Mayor Metodi Baikushev noted that the hospital’s existence is further threatened by sanctions from the National Health Insurance Fund, which terminated three key clinical pathways due to alleged reporting of non-performed activities. These pathways reportedly account for over 70% of the facility’s revenue.

In addition to the audit, the hospital’s manager and head nurse are under investigation by the prosecutor’s office for alleged document fraud involving approximately 20,000 BGN from the National Health Insurance Fund.

Hospital Manager Dr. Vladislav Pandeve has contested the audit findings and characterized the criticism as ‘unmotivated aggression’. He maintains that the hospital is financially stable and has experienced increasing patient numbers. The legal dispute regarding the clinical pathways is currently awaiting a final ruling from the Supreme Administrative Court.