Here’s a breakdown of teh provided text, focusing on the key points and arguments:
Core Issue: The article discusses the controversy surrounding the funding and construction of a new National Children’s Hospital in Bulgaria.
Key Players and Their Stances:
Health Minister (Kirilov):
Defends the project, stating the new hospital’s funding (around BGN 80 million with VAT) is not comparable to the old Children’s Hospital due to differences in bed count and requirements.
Guarantees transparent funding and vows to prevent corruption.
Believes the project’s implementation shouldn’t be constantly questioned due to changing political agendas.
Suspects someone wants to “steal some money.”
Has submitted a forecast from international experts to the Ministry of Finance.
Desislava Malinova (Director of the Health Investment Company for Children’s Hospital):
Counters claims that the hospital will cost BGN 1 billion, stating that the Minister’s figure includes design, construction, equipment, and furnishings.
Highlights that the EIB Grant Agreement was made by those currently questioning the data.
Explains the project is in the market survey stage.
Considers allegations of high prices and secret agreements dangerous and undermining of confidence.
Assures that all processes will be public and transparent.
Believes there’s an attack on the project based on manipulation, not facts.
Public Council for the Construction of the National Children’s Hospital:
Warns that any political game with the hospital risks its future.
states that abusing the topic of the budget for the hospital is not beneficial.
Presents “facts” to support their position:
1. They haven’t seen a specific letter shown to the media.
2. The requested budget of 400 million euros is based on calculations by previous consultants for capacity and functional program. This includes everything but is based on average European prices and doesn’t account for partially equipped clinics from old locations, making it inaccurate but the best available so far.
3. The price of 4000 euros per square meter applies to complex and highly equipped areas like surgery, intensive care, and neonatology, reflecting costs of similar European hospitals.
4. A BGN 100 million budget from 6 years ago was for completing a scaffold at Alexandrovska Hospital, which was for a smaller area and didn’t include equipment/furnishings.
5. Preliminary work has been funded by the EIB, not the Bulgarian state.
6. Risks to the project are related to unrealistic design terms and insufficient pre-qualification.
Key Allegations and Counter-arguments:
Allegation: The hospital will cost BGN 1 billion.
Counter: The minister’s figure of BGN 80 million (with VAT) includes all aspects of the project, not just construction.
Allegation: High prices and secret agreements. Counter: Malinova states the project is in a market survey stage, all processes will be public, and the allegations are dangerous manipulation. Allegation: The budget of 400 million euros is inaccurate.
Counter: The Public council acknowledges it’s based on previous consultants’ calculations and average European prices, making it the best available, though not perfectly precise. They also clarify that the 4000 euros/sq meter is for specialized areas.
underlying Concerns:
Corruption: The Minister explicitly suspects someone wants to steal money.
Political Interference: The Minister and the Public Council both highlight the negative impact of political agendas and games on the project’s progress.
lack of Transparency (Perceived): Despite assurances, the Public Council’s statement about not seeing a letter suggests a dialog gap or a feeling of being excluded from certain information.
In essence, the article presents a debate where the Health Minister and the Director of the Health Investment Company are defending the project against accusations of inflated costs and lack of transparency, while the Public Council supports their stance and adds further context and concerns about the project’s future due to political interference.
