The head of the Authority for State Assets Recovery (AVAS) has issued an ultimatum to over 50,000 companies that have not yet paid their contribution to the National Social Health Insurance Fund. The “list of shame” comprises some of the most thriving companies in Romania such as BancPost, Alpha Bank, Ion Tiriac Asigurari, Tofan Grup, says AVAS head Razvan Orasanu.

In 2003 AVAS took over the debts from the National Social Health Insurance Fund and was determined to recover the 1000 bln (28.5 bln Euros) lei the companies owed to hospitals, city halls, private and state companies.

Orasanu threatens to block the debtors’ accounts if they don’t pay their contributions that account now for 150 mln RON (42.8 bln Euros), enough to cover discounted medicine for two months throughout the country. The deadline set by AVAS is June 12.