Bulgaria's health ministry is launching checks on how health funds are spent in all 28 regions, health minister Katya Ivkova announced at a prosecutors' briefing in Plovdiv. The move follows a scheme exposed by prosecutors to siphon money from the National Health Insurance Fund.

The checks will involve the Medical Supervision Executive Agency, the regional health inspectorates and the Executive Agency on Drugs.

"To make absolutely sure we have good health care and that health funds are spent properly, we're starting checks in all 28 regions," Ivkova said.

The ministry is also working with the company Information Services so patients can use the eZdrave app to see how much has been spent on their care and report it if the billing doesn't match what they got. Reports will go to the National Health Information System, where they'll be checked using artificial intelligence as well as in-person inspections.