Katya Ivkova took over the Ministry of Health with a pledge for increased prevention and control

“The most important thing is to shift the focus from hospital treatment to health promotion and active disease prevention.” With these words, the new Minister of Health, Katya Ivkova, officially took over the post from caretaker minister Mikhail Okoliyski.

During the handover ceremony, Ivkova stated that she would rely on continuity in the management of the sector. Among the main priorities remain maternal and child healthcare, price control, and increasing cost-efficiency within the system.

“We have a lot of work ahead of us. We will rely on the full mobilization of the administration and the support of the secondary budget spenders,” she pointed out.

The new Health Minister announced that her first step would be to conduct detailed analyses within the Ministry of Health to determine the most urgent measures for the sector.

“Reviewing what has been achieved so far is of critical importance so that we can build effectively and achieve real results for the people,” Ivkova added.

For his part, Okoliyski stated that he was leaving an “orderly department with a clear direction” and expressed his expectation for the continuation of the initiated policies.

“We are handing over a predictable legacy with specific priorities and a full report on the work we have completed. We expect continuity for all meaningful policies that placed the patient at the center of the system,” he said.

Ivkova committed to maintaining high standards of transparency and to active cooperation with institutions and organizations in the health sector to ensure the sustainability of reforms.