ПРОГРАМИ
en de ru fr es sr gr al tr ro
Podcast in English
Share
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

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.

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.
Radio Bulgaria News    mental illness psychiatric care psychiatrists salaries of doctors salaries of nurses

More from category

Chief commissioner Lyubomir Nikolov

Over 43,000 euros found in those who demanded bribes from drivers of Robbie Williams' equipment

The two employees of the Executive Agency "Automobile Administration", who demanded bribes from foreign truck drivers transporting equipment for Robbie Williams' mega show, have been fired , brought to criminal liability and detained for 72 hours...

published on 9/29/25 7:05 PM

Partly cloudy skies and autumn-like temperatures expected on Tuesday

On Tuesday, the lowest temperatures will range from 5°C to 10°C, up to 13°C along the Black Sea coast. In Sofia the lowest temperature will be around 6°C. It will be mostly sunny during the day. In the afternoon, cloudiness will increase over the..

published on 9/29/25 6:30 PM

An increasing number of Bulgarians travel abroad, Greece is the most-preferred destination

In August 2025, the number of trips abroad made by Bulgarians totalled 1,078,900, which is a 19.4% increase compared to August 2024, according to data from the National Statistical Institute (NSI). The largest numbers of trips abroad by Bulgarians..

published on 9/29/25 2:20 PM

WEATHER
Pick city: Sofía
Overcast, rain
Min: 12 | Max: 16
Overcast, rain
Min: 14 | Max: 19
Cloudy
Min: 15 | Max: 18
Overcast, rain
Min: 9 | Max: 19
Overcast, rain
Min: 10 | Max: 16
Overcast, rain
Min: 11 | Max: 15
Overcast, rain
Min: 9 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 16
Overcast, rain
Min: 12 | Max: 19
Overcast, rain
Min: 11 | Max: 15
Overcast, rain
Min: 10 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 11 | Max: 18
Overcast, rain
Min: 12 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 9 | Max: 14
Overcast, rain
Min: 11 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 13 | Max: 17
Overcast, rain
Min: 11 | Max: 14
Overcast, rain
Min: 12 | Max: 18
Cloudy
Min: 13 | Max: 18
Overcast, rain
Min: 12 | Max: 18
Overcast, rain
Min: 7 | Max: 13
Overcast, rain
Min: 9 | Max: 15
Overcast, rain
Min: 12 | Max: 18
Overcast, rain
Min: 11 | Max: 15
Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 19
Overcast, rain
Min: 11 | Max: 16
Cloudy
Min: 12 | Max: 19
BULGARIA IN PICTURES
Which world-famous Bulgarian artist designed QSL cards for Radio Bulgaria?
Yasen Gyuzelev
Theodore Ushev
Christo Javacheff - Christo
Ilia Peikov
Lika Yanko

BULGARIANS ABROAD

Български English Русский Deutsch Српски Français Ελληνικά Español Shqip Türkçe Română
MOST VIEWED

An increasing number of Bulgarians travel abroad, Greece is the most-preferred destination

In August 2025, the number of trips abroad made by Bulgarians totalled 1,078,900, which is a 19.4% increase compared to August 2024, according to data..

published on 9/29/25 2:20 PM

Arrests at Automobile Administration for attempt to get bribe from Robbie Williams’ team

Two employees of the Executive Agency “Automobile Administration” have been detained for 72 hours. They were arrested by the Sofia..

published on 9/29/25 11:46 AM

Minister of Social Affairs is against raising taxes in 2026

I do not think that any taxes should be raised, Minister of Social Affairs Borislav Gutsanov has told BNT. “The situation of people..

published on 9/29/25 8:50 AM

english@bnr.bg

+359 2 9336 661

Общи условия за използване на сайта | Политика за поверителност | Политика за "бисквитки"