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

Hotel operators say staff shortages are the biggest challenge

No rise in prices in the hotel industry is to be expected until the end of the year, and wherever a price rise is planned, it will not exceed 10%. However, hotel operators say they are not expecting any improvement in the business environment. This..

published on 6/22/24 12:59 PM

More and more minors in Bulgaria take summer jobs

More and more minors have been applying to the General Labour Inspectorate for work permits for the summer vacation, BNR’s correspondent in Kyustendil Kiril Falin reports. Minors are most often hired in the hotel and restaurant industry and in..

published on 6/22/24 10:36 AM
Sofia Pride 2023

Sofia Pride takes place today for the 17th time, march for the family organized on same day

The 17 th edition of Sofia Pride is scheduled for today in Bulgaria’s capital city. The organizers describe it as “the biggest human rights event in Bulgaria”.  This year’s motto is “Bulgaria is our home too”.  Eight successful..

published on 6/22/24 9:58 AM