# NHIF fraud investigation in Plovdiv

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nhif-fraud-investigation-in-plovdiv
> Updated: 2026-10-15T08:19:51.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Plovdiv District Court ordered the detention of Professor Mariela Geneva-Popova, head of the Rheumatology Clinic at UMBAL ‘St. George’, following an investigation into a large-scale scheme to defraud the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). Prosecutors alleged the scheme involved generating revenue through fictitious hospitalizations and issuing over 5,000 fraudulent referrals. One suspect, an accountant at Geneva-Popova’s private medical center, was released on bail, while an elderly physician was released due to health issues.

Subsequently, the Plovdiv Appellate Court denied Geneva-Popova’s request for release on bail, keeping her in custody. The investigation suggests an organized criminal group allegedly defrauded the fund of more than 3 million euros. Evidence indicated that patients recorded as being in the clinic were not physically present and that staff blood was used to facilitate the rotation of clinical pathways. 

During her court appearance, Geneva-Popova admitted to administrative violations but denied that the facility operated as an illegal organization, suggesting external interests might be involved. She resigned from her academic and clinical leadership roles on October 13.

## Claims

- Prof. Mariela Geneva-Popova is accused of leading an organized criminal group. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The scheme allegedly drained over 3 million euros from the Health Insurance Fund through falsified hospitalizations. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Geneva-Popova resigned from her positions as Dean of the Medical Faculty and Head of the Rheumatology Clinic on October 13. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Mariela Geneva-Popova denies that the clinic operated as an illegal organization, though she admits to violations. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The defense requested that Geneva-Popova be released on monetary bail. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The investigation suggests patients were recorded as hospitalized despite not being physically present at the clinic. (single source)
- Six individuals have been charged following an economic police action at the Rheumatology Clinic. (single source)
- The Plovdiv Appellate Court denied the request to change the detention measure to a lighter form. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-15: Mariela Geneva-Popova remains in custody amid medical fraud allegations

Prof. Mariela Geneva-Popova remains in custody after a Plovdiv court denied her bail request in a 3 million euro medical fraud case involving falsified hospitalizations.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mariela-geneva-popova-remains-in-custody-amid-medical-fraud-allegations

### 2026-10-07: Plovdiv court detains rheumatology chief in NHIF fraud case

Professor Mariela Geneva-Popova remains in custody following a confession regarding a scheme to defraud Bulgaria’s National Health Insurance Fund through thousands of fictitious hospitalizations.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/plovdiv-court-detains-rheumatology-chief-in-nhif-fraud-case

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Cite as: NHIF fraud investigation in Plovdiv. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nhif-fraud-investigation-in-plovdiv