A handful of oligarchs are abusing European funds, the Recovery and Resilience Plan is currently being abused. This was said by the acting Minister of Health, Assoc. Prof. Mihail Okoliyski, during his participation in a round table on the topic "Advocacy for the introduction of international standards for combating gender-based violence and domestic violence in Bulgarian legislation" in Sofia, BTA reports.
In his words, out of 6 billion euros, about 1 billion will be used, because behind absolutely every measure there are forms of public procurement that have sunk into dependencies and impossibility of implementation. Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski added that this concerns health programs, such as air assistance with helicopters and the screening program. He noted that there is money for the screening program, but it cannot be started because the most expensive tests have been purchased. The Minister of Health explained that it needs to be seen how at least “opportunistic screening with the tests already purchased“ will be carried out, and then the procurement will be canceled.
In connection with the topic of violence, the minister stated that the fight must be for the prevention of all types of violence. In his words, the national health information system must keep statistics on all forms of violence caused to women, children and men.
Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski emphasizes that the genesis of the entire problem of domestic violence and gender-based violence is adverse childhood experiences. “These are the traumas that girls and boys experience in the family most of all, because it has been proven that adverse childhood experiences are caused mostly by parents and relatives, who are associated with physical, mental and sexual violence“, said Assoc. Prof. Okoliyski.
Adverse childhood experiences and violence lead to non-communicable chronic diseases, the Minister of Health also said.