site.btaHealth Minister Kirilov Presents Strategy to Improve Primary Care Access

The Council of Ministers adopted a National Strategy 2027 to improve access to primary outpatient care and ensure balanced distribution of health services in Bulgaria, Minister of Health Silvi Kirilov said on Wednesday.

This document is part of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and seeks to address the shortage of healthcare professionals and the uneven distribution of medical staff.

“We are introducing incentives for young people to choose careers in the sector,” Kirilov said. Conditions will be improved for work in small settlements, and general practitioners in remote areas will receive additional support. New primary care and health service clinics will be established to ensure that residents of small settlements do not need to travel long distances to access medical care, Kirilov said.

He added that municipal-level policies will be implemented to attract and retain specific healthcare specialists, including scholarships during medical training, housing support, and employment assistance for spouses. Additional incentives will include access to kindergartens and schools for families with children, improved financial conditions through supplementary pay, particularly in primary care, and a new pay standard that links healthcare professionals’ salaries to their qualifications to ensure fairness and predictability in the system.

Kirilov also identifies the implementation of a unified information system for real-time monitoring of staff numbers, qualifications, and geographic distribution as a key component. This system will support data-driven decision-making and allow resources to be allocated to areas with the most critical shortages.

Advisory health and social units will be created to support vulnerable groups, including young mothers, families with children with disabilities, chronic illnesses, special needs, and elderly individuals at risk of social exclusion, Kirilov said. This new model aims to provide care closer to the community and alleviate pressure on the hospital system.

“With this strategy, we are laying the foundations for a fairer and more balanced health system. The measures will restore people’s trust and secure the future of Bulgarian healthcare,” he added.

Healthcare professionals mounted successive pay protests, from a demonstration at the Health Ministry on Monday, May 12, to nationwide rallies on Monday, June 2, and a march that blocked Eagles’ Bridge in Sofia on Monday, July 28. The Trade Union of Bulgarian Healthcare Providers said on Wednesday, May 21 it was ready for strike action and addressed demands to Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov, Health Minister Silvi Kirilov and Finance Minister Temenuzhka Petkova. Core demands included salaries of at least 150% of the average wage, BGN 3,600 starting pay for young doctors, higher night-shift rates, transparent criteria for specialist training and controls on overtime; three bills to amend the Healthcare Establishments Act passed first reading. Kirilov said steps would be taken in the next budget to address pay imbalances.