Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Bulgarian healthcare faced with shortage of 17,000 nurses

Photo: Archive

The Bulgarian Association of Health Care Professionals insists that the Bulgarian state should set a minimum number of nurses in each health care facility to ensure quality care for patients. The same proposal applies to midwives, rehabilitation workers, laboratory technicians and other specialists. 

According to a report by the Council for Economic Analysis of the Council of Ministers, there is a shortage of about 17 thousand nurses in Bulgaria, or 60% of the workforce in 2021. Thus, there is less than one nurse per doctor. However, if the normal ratio of 2:1 is to be reached, 29 thousand professionals need to enter the healthcare system. 

Figures from the same year show that 540 students graduate as nurses annually, while those leaving the jobs as nurses number 890. 

On International Nursing Day, the association is proposing that salaries be increased in line with the knowledge, skills and responsibilities in nursing teams to address the staffing crisis.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Rain and hail expected over the western regions of Bulgaria

During the next 24 hours, cumulus clouds will develop again over the western half of the country. At night, there will be short-term rainfalls and thunderstorms in many places. There are conditions for hail and local intense phenomena..

published on 6/27/24 6:50 PM

President Radev refuses to lead Bulgarian delegation to NATO summit

President Rumen Radev did not accept the Council of Ministers' proposal to lead the Bulgarian delegation to the NATO summit in Washington, the presidency said.  Rumen Radev did not agree with certain provisions of the framework positions adopted..

published on 6/27/24 6:12 PM

No leakage of radioactive water from Kozloduy NPP into the Danube after an incident

After an accident that took place when Unit 6 of the Kozloduy NPP was shut down for repairs, no personnel were exposed to radiation, no leakage of radioactive water into the Danube River occurred, and some operators from the plant..

published on 6/27/24 3:32 PM