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Psychiatric care in Bulgaria relies on only 572 specialists

Workers in state psychiatric hospitals have gone on strike demanding higher salaries and better conditions
Center for mental health in Sofia district
Photo: D-r Vladimir Sotirov

Workers in state psychiatric hospitals have gone on strike demanding higher salaries and better working conditions, including adequate workplace protection, as they work with dangerous patients. 
Silent protest in front of the building of the State Psychiatric Hospital in Tsarev Brod, Shumen region
"Young specialists are fleeing because we do not have decent pay or good working conditions. They prefer to go abroad," said Dr. Kamelia Panova, chairwoman of the "Protection" union at the State Psychiatric Hospital in Lovech. She pointed out that a psychiatric nurse receives 1,300-1,400 leva /665-716 euros/ depending on her length of service.

The Bulgarian Medical Association supported the demands of the psychiatric workers. 

"Bulgaria ranks last in the EU in terms of the number of psychiatrists per 100,000 population - only 8, or more than 3 times less than Germany - the country in the EU with the largest number of psychiatrists. All psychiatric care in Bulgaria is supported by 572 working colleagues, and nearly 300 of them are over 61 years of age. Young staff in the specialty, those under 40, are only 37. And against this background, mental illnesses have seen a visible increase in recent years," the BMA said.

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