Inspections in hospices will continue - they will not be only in the villages of Yagoda and Govedartsi. We have been working with Minister Georgiev on this issue for more than a month. This action is not accidental at all.
This was stated by the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov during a briefing in response to a journalistic question regarding the "homes of horrors" for the elderly in Stara Zagora, quoted by "Focus".
"We are convinced that it will most likely reach the point that there were also property frauds. These people are not only in inhumane conditions, which is unacceptable to me", the minister said.
He was categorical that the government is determined to go to the end in the inspections of nursing homes and by terminating the activities of those who do not comply and do not meet the necessary criteria.
"We will be completely uncompromising on this issue", the social minister said.
"No one can make fun of the lives of our mothers, our fathers, our parents, the elderly. The one who did it must test the law with all its might", he added.
The minister revealed that legislative changes are also being prepared to be implemented in the Criminal Code and to be directed against similar types of cases.
According to him, the owners of the nursing homes have used a loophole in the law by registering them as guest rooms. And he explained that the authorities have difficulty following up on such cases due to the existence of this legislative option. He revealed that the home in Yagoda was fined in the past, and subsequently the owners gave up their license in order not to be subject to inspections by the institutions.
He appealed to citizens to check on the ministry's website whether the hospice where they intend to leave their loved ones is part of the public register.
"81 homes are currently being reconstructed. 331 million leva are the funds under the Recovery and Sustainability Plan. Another 275 services for 370 million leva, which will be for specific needs. More than half of the funds were on the verge of being lost. Thanks to the ministry's team, we managed to save them. We have provided the funds to the municipalities, the mayors to monitor the implementation of the repairs," he said.