Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 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

EC closes the infringement procedure against Bulgaria related to the flood risk management plans

The European Commission has decided to close the infringement procedure against Bulgaria for the non-implementation of its obligations to review and update the Second Flood Risk Management Plans and the Third River Basin Management Plans.  A statement..

published on 2/17/25 5:40 PM
Acad. Ivan Todorov

One of the brightest Bulgarian minds passed away - physicist Ivan Todorov

Physicist Acad. Ivan Todorov passed away at the age of 91, the press center of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences announced. Acad. Todorov was a scientist with outstanding achievements and world recognition in the field of modern..

published on 2/17/25 4:13 PM

Sofia Airport operates normally in winter conditions

Sofia Airport operates normally in winter conditions, BTA has reported. The runways for take off and landing have been cleaned. The aircraft are being treated against icing. Passengers are advised to arrive at the terminals at..

published on 2/17/25 2:44 PM