A national protest of those employed at the Centers for Emergency Medical Services is scheduled for October 19. The protest action will take place in front of the Council of Ministers building in central Sofia. Meanwhile, the inaugural sitting of the new National Assembly will take place. The medics insist that their employment category be equated to the category of labor of police officers and firefighters, with whom they partner in emergency situations. A letter of request has been sent to the country’s President, the Council of Ministers and all political forces represented at the 48^th National Assembly. According to the protesters, the basic monthly salary of doctors employed at the Centers for Emergency Medical Services should amount to EUR 1,300. A midlevel clinical practitioner (feldsher) should receive EUR 900 a month, a nurse-EUR 825 a month. In their words, ambulance drivers and paramedics should receive at least EUR 700 a month.

The medics from the Centers for Emergency Medical Services in Northeastern Bulgaria, a region with record-low incomes in Bulgaria and Europe, are the most active participants at the protest, said Krasimir Mitov, President of the National Trade Union “Zashtita/Protection”:

“Wages in Bulgaria’s healthcare system as well as the problems in this sector in general are on our priority list. Now, however, the focus is entirely on the Centers for Emergency Medical Services. Our battle began a long time ago. Last year, we launched a series of protect actions, because the Covid-19 supplements for frontline workers were temporarily suspended. Then we organized protests and payments resumed. In the summer of 2021, the people employed at the Centers for Emergency Medical Services were told that their basic salaries would increase with 40%, which was a lie. The state budget was amended, but the promises were not kept, which generated social unrest, because none of our demands were met.”

On October 17, caretaker Minister of Health Asen Medjidiev convened a working meeting of members of the Supervisory Board of the National Health Insurance Fund, the Bulgarian Medical Association and representatives of the Ministry of Health due to the rising tension in the healthcare field related to the remuneration of medical specialists. Minister Medjidiev proposed an increase in the prices of clinical pathways, but the participants failed to reach a consensus on the exact increase, which is likely to fluctuate between 12% and 20%. The increase will be funded with money from the surplus of the National Health Insurance Find and will take effect after the signature of a new annex. At the end of September, the Council of Ministers allocated additional funds to the budget of the Ministry of Health amounting to EUR 4.9 million. Bulgaria’s caretaker Minister of Health Asen Medjidiev announced that payments will begin on October 1 and that the medics employed at the Centers for Emergency Medical Services will receive an extra payment (EUR 300 to EUR 75 depending on their position) until the end of 2022, similar to the Covid-19 supplements paid during the pandemic. Despite the efforts by the caretaker cabinet, a lasting solution to the problem can only be found if the increase is included in next year’s state budget by decision of the National Assembly. That is why the protest of the medics will be held on October 19 during the inaugural sitting of the new Parliament. October 19 is also the Feast Day of St. John of Rila and the National Doctors’ Day

“This year we are to choose between the celebrations marking the National Doctors’ Day and our own interest, because on this day the Bulgarian Medical Association organizes local celebrations –Krasimir Mitov said. – These people are now choosing whether to defend their cause or to get a EUR 10 treat and then pay membership fees over the next 12 months. Bulgaria has always had a government, a regular or caretaker. However, these people don’t want to sit at the negotiating table to find a solution to the issues in the sector. This is what frustrates healthcare workers the most. They decided to launch a protest on the National Doctors’ Day hoping to have their voices heard by the political forces that will be part of the new Parliament.”

English version: Kostadin Atanasov