Doctors and nurses from the country's 12 state-run psychiatric hospitals have staged a protest outside the Ministry of Health, demanding a higher pay rise than that included in the new budget. The protesters briefly blocked traffic on the boulevard in front of the ministry.

"The long overdue reform of psychiatric care must finally begin. For more than 25 years, the state psychiatric hospitals have been left to deteriorate, looted and plundered. The staff is far below the mandatory minimum and works under extremely difficult conditions," said Dr. Ivan Dobrinov from the State Psychiatric Hospital in Radnevo.

• Psychiatric care in Bulgaria relies on only 572 specialists

According to the protesters, young professionals refuse working in psychiatric hospitals because of the high risks and low pay. The psychiatrists warned that if the government fails to take the necessary action, they will collectively resign.