Bulgaria health minister charged over vaccine contracts
Bulgarian prosecutors have charged health minister Bozhidar Nanev with mismanaging flu vaccine contracts. The government presented the move as part of its efforts to clean up corruption as Brussels assesses Sofia's efforts to fight misconduct and organised crime.
Prosecutors said Nanev caused €1.24 million (2.45 million levs) of damage by signing two contracts last December with Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG for the delivery of the influenza drug Tamiflu.
Nanev is the first minister in the Balkan country to be charged with corruption since communism collapsed 20 years ago. He faces up to 10 years in jail if found guilty.
"It is important we have proved that there are no untouchable people," said prosecutor Nikolai Kokinov.
Prosecutors said Nanev had chosen the vaccine offered by the Bulgarian arm of Roche rather than the cheaper one on offer from Britain's National Health Service, and said they would ask the Sofia City Court to suspend him.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, whose centre-right GERB party came to power last July on promises to end a climate of impunity, has promised to be uncompromising when there are suspicions of corruption among his officials.
However, Mihail Mikov, a member of parliament with the Coalition for Bulgaria and a former interior minister, said Nanev is a scapegoat. Mikov claimed that Prime Minister Borissov was looking for an excuse to dismiss an unpopular member of cabinet.
>> EurActiv