site.btaUPDATED Medical Residents and Professionals Demand Fair Pay, Block Central Junction
Medical residents and medical professionals are demanding fair compensation. They staged a protest on Monday evening in front of the National Assembly building. The demonstration was held under the slogan “Future in Bulgaria.”
“What we consider fair pay is 150% of the average salary — that’s BGN 3,600 BGN,” said Vasilena Dimitrova, a medical student and one of the protest organizers, in a statement to BTA. “We will continue protesting until our voices are heard,” she added, warning that the protest might ultimately “end at Terminal 2,” referring to leaving the country, as there is a demand for medical professionals abroad.
“We don’t see the same attitude as toward other sectors when they protest,” Dimitrova also pointed out. According to her, there is misinformation in the public space on the topic.
Last week, lawmakers passed at first reading three bills amending the Healthcare Establishments Act, addressing the pay of young doctors.
]Protest organizers, who announced the event on Facebook, argue that the proposed increase in starting salaries for nurses and newly graduated doctors is “negligible.”
The protesters carried Bulgarian flags and placards reading: “We want to see a healthy healthcare system,” “Medical work isn’t worth BGN 150,” “We care for you, who cares for us?”
Later, the protesters marched toward Eagles’ Bridge Square and temporarily blocked the key Sofia junction.
The protesters are also demanding an increase in pay for night shifts. They believe that the collective labor agreement is not an effective mechanism for guaranteeing adequate compensation for young doctors.
The organizers of the demonstration emphasized that healthcare is a necessity for all citizens and that ensuring the employment of young medical professionals is essential so that there will be someone to care for patients in the future.
“We will not give up and will persist until we are heard,” the future doctors declared. “Together for a Future in Bulgaria” — that is their message.
/KK/
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