Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2024 All Rights Reserved

Parliament to address mental health

Photo: Facebook/Mental Health

With 137 votes in favour, the National Assembly has set up a temporary committee to protect the rights of the mentally ill. 

The committee will examine violations found in the country by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment at the end of March this year, as well as those reported by the Bulgarian Ombudsman. 

Legislative amendments are being prepared. The sponsors of We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria aim to abolish compulsory detention and deinstitutionalise mental health institutions. "Obviously, the authors have no idea what compulsory detention under the Mental Health Act is - on what occasions, when, how and in what way it is imposed," said Branimir Balachev of GERB.

The European Committee report said that patients complained that orderlies shouted at them and hit them, that rooms were often overcrowded and conditions in wards were distinctly prison-like, and that staffing was grossly inadequate.



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

Ivan Kondov (L) and Igli Hasani

Foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Albania reaffirm support for accelerated construction of Corridor 8

Bulgaria’s caretaker Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov and his Albanian counterpart Igli Hasani confirmed the firm commitment of the two countries to the accelerated construction of transport Corridor 8. Romania has asked to join the construction..

published on 11/21/24 9:04 AM

Gale-force winds inflict damage in Vratsa and the environs

Winds of up to 120 kms. per hour inflicted damage in Vratsa, the biggest town in Bulgaria’s Northwest. Dozens of reports have come in of fallen trees and branches onto vehicles and roads, damaged equipment and torn overhead cables. There were..

published on 11/21/24 8:43 AM

Temperatures will drop, snowfall expected in high places

A cold front will pass through the country overnight and tomorrow from the northwest . Rain will fall in many places in the western regions and the Danube Plain, and will quickly turn to snow in the high fields of western Bulgaria and the Balkan Range...

published on 11/20/24 7:35 PM