Alleged controversial huge bonuses for the management of state health insurer

'Super-managers' from the state-owned health insurer Všeobecná Zdravotná Poisťovňa (VsZP) have received huge bonuses in the past three years, according to opposition MP Miroslav Beblavý. Three of them, including the former and current interim general directors received more than €100,000 a year in addition to their salaries simply because they were members of the board of directors. Beblavý pointed out that the criteria for yearly bonuses are determined by the Health Ministry and he could not find them on its website. Last week the Health Ministry said that the former general director of the health insurance company, Marcel Forai, received €22,596 in bonuses last year. Health Ministry spokesman Peter Bubla stated that nominees of the current Government immediately after taking up their posts in 2012 reduced their salaries: the general director by 30 percent and members of the board and department heads by 15 percent. Slovakia's largest health insurer is currently embroiled in a scandal with contracts worth €14 million which were given to a company owned by the aunt of its now former general director, Marcel Forai. The case is under investigation by the National Criminal Agency.