News

25 May 2026

During a unannounced inspection of the State Psychiatric Hospital in Sevlievo, the Ombudsman, acting as the National Preventive Mechanism, found mold on the walls, crumbling plaster, dampness in the rooms, and hazardous conditions for patients.

The inspection revealed serious violations, substandard repairs, and suspicions of unjustified spending of public funds.

On 11 May 2026, a team from the National Preventive Mechanism under the Ombudsman conducted an unannounced inspection at the Sevlievo State Psychiatric Hospital to follow up on the implementation of the Ombudsman’s previous recommendations. Back in 2025, the Ombudsman’s team found that the renovation works at the medical facility were being carried out in a perfunctory manner, with poor quality and significant delays.

It was found that repair works worth over BGN 1.4 million under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP) were carried out to an extremely poor standard—peeling plaster, mold, and damp in the rooms, and suspended ceilings installed in a hazardous manner, uneven flooring, dangling cables, and unfinished work.

Furthermore, despite repeated recommendations from the Ombudsman, the hospital still lacks a fire alarm system and an elevator for patients with limited mobility.

The inspection also found serious grounds for suspicion of duplication and overpricing of construction and installation costs, including for work that was already included in the original contract or, according to hospital management, was not performed at all.

Due to the identified violations, the Ombudsman has referred the matter to the Gabrovo District Prosecutor’s Office, the Ministry of Finance, the National Audit Office, and the State Financial Inspection Agency, requesting a full investigation into the renovation, the quality of the work, and the expenditure of public funds.

“It is inexcusable to use public funds to carry out substandard renovations in healthcare facilities where some of the most vulnerable people in society are housed. It is even more concerning when there is evidence of work that was not performed, yet payment is being claimed for it,” Velislava Delcheva stated firmly.

Recommendations were made to the Minister of Health to clarify the reasons for the lack of oversight over the renovation works, the delays in construction and installation activities, and the failure to implement key safety measures, including the installation of a fire alarm system and an elevator.