Three days of protests demanding better working conditions are to begin today in psychiatric hospitals and wards across the country.

According to Dr Tsveteslava Galabova, head of the St Ivan Rilski State Psychiatric Hospital, psychiatric care is on the verge of collapse and medical staff are threatening to walk out. "The situation in the 12 state psychiatric hospitals is beyond tragic, both in terms of conditions and staff, who are unmotivated and extremely poorly paid," she said.

Mental health workers are demanding the introduction of a system to evaluate their work, with annual salary indexation. Dr Tsveteslava Galabova added that they were seeking a 50% pay rise and for their work to be recognised as a second category profession.