site.btaHealthcare Workers Protest in Sofia, Demand Higher Pay

Healthcare workers staged a protest outside University Multidisciplinary Hospital for Active Treatment Tsaritsa Yoanna - ISUL in Sofia on Wednesday, demanding higher wages for employees in the healthcare sector. The demonstration was organized by the Zashtita Trade Union. According to the organizers, no pay increase has been envisaged for employees of state and municipal hospitals for a third consecutive year.

The protest brought together employees from Tsaritsa Yoanna - ISUL, St Ekaterina, Pirogov, Maychin Dom, Alexandrovska and St Ivan Rilski hospitals, among others, Ninka Georgieva said. She added that employees from emergency medical centres in Blagoevgrad, the Sandanski branch, Pazardzhik, Sofia, Vratsa and Kyustendil also took part.

The protesters briefly blocked Gen. Danail Nikolaev Boulevard.

"We want our voices to be heard and for amendments to be made between the first and second readings of the State Budget Bill so that funds are allocated for pay increases for healthcare workers," Zashtita Trade Union President Krasimir Mitov told the demonstrators.

The protesters also said that most healthcare workers hold two jobs, work overtime and that the sector faces a shortage of qualified personnel.

Last week, Parliament's Health Committee approved the draft 2026 budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). At the time, Health Minister Katya Ivkova said the proposed budget allocated more than EUR 412 million more than the Fund's 2025 budget.