"The accusations are completely unfounded," Nanev said in a statement.

"Nevertheless, I will tender my resignation."

"It is out of the question that I remain in this post as long as there is the slightest doubt I might have acted against Bulgarian interests," he added.

Sofia prosecutors announced Tuesday that charges were being brought against Nanev for allegedly purchasing Tamiflu vaccines at excessive prices and after the A(H1N1) epidemic had passed.

The Bulgarian government paid 3.3 million euros (4.44 million dollars) for 200,000 doses of the Tamiflu vaccine from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Roche, when the British health services had offered the same amount for two million euros, prosecutors said.

"Nanev caused damages to the state of about 2.5 million leva (1.28 million euros, 1.72 million dollars)," noted prosecutor Margarita Nemska.

Moreover, the vaccines were delivered in January, a month and a half after the swine flu epidemic had ended in Bulgaria, the prosecution added.

A top official from the health ministry was also charged alongside Nanev, it said.

Sofia's prosecutors took up the case against Nanev after the British health services, as well as Bulgaria's anti-corruption authorities, filed a complaint.

They had argued that the Tamiflu vaccines had been purchased without respecting procedures for awarding public contracts.

Bulgaria's centre-right government has made the fight against corruption its main priority since taking office last July, following criticism by the European Commission.

Prime Minister Boyko Borisov hinted Tuesday that he would accept Nanev's resignation.

"I always said I would not make any compromises," he said.

The opposition Socialists argued however that Borisov was "using this occasion to get rid of an unpopular minister."

The government recently tried to launch a broad plan to reform the country's inefficient health system, but had to put it on hold under pressure from doctors.

As part of the reform, the government was planning to turn medical centres in small towns and villages into simple first aid stations, to be able to invest more in turn in regional and specialised hospitals.

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Memory Foam Mattress Review

SPACE MEDIA NETWORK PROMOTIONS Solar Energy Solutions Tempur-Pedic Mattress Comparison ... Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News