site.btaHealth Ministry Supports Over 300 Young Medical Professionals through Specialization Projects

More than 300 young medical professionals, including doctors, dentists, nurses, and midwives, are receiving support under two Health Ministry projects aimed at encouraging specialization, Health Minister Silvi Kirilov said during a press conference on Thursday.

One of the projects, funded under Bulgaria’s Human Resources Development Operational Programme, was initially valued at BGN 15 million but was later increased by an additional BGN 26 million through an annex, the Minister said.

The project provides a monthly allowance of approximately BGN 2,600 in addition to the trainees' income. With the additional funding, 111 trainees currently on a waiting list will be able to join the training programme.

Deputy Health Minister Yavor Penchev said that the funding is provided to trainees willing to work in areas facing a severe shortage of medical specialists. The largest number of trainees are based in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, Ruse, Sliven, Pernik, and Haskovo. Penchev explained that public hospitals in major cities suffer from a critical shortage of staff, but also provide large training bases that allow young professionals to quickly integrate into the field.

Project coordinator Mariana Vassileva said all 111 trainees from the waiting list will be invited on Friday to confirm their participation by September 15. Contracts are expected to be signed with them by the end of September. She added that there is a strong likelihood of a new round of applications being announced.

The second project, also focused on young medical professionals, supports 130 trainees who began their specialization in 2023. It covers the fees for both practical and theoretical training. In cases where trainees have no income, they are provided with financial support equivalent to two minimum wages.

Kirilov noted that more than 200 state-funded specialization positions remain unfilled. He added that regional hospitals have announced over 350 openings for trainees, of which only around 120 have been taken.

On June 22, Parliament's Committee on Health adopted on first reading three bills amending the Medical-Treatment Facilities Act, addressing the pay of young doctors.

On June 27, medical residents and medical professionals staged a protest demanding fair compensation and arguing that the proposed increase in starting salaries for nurses and newly graduated doctors is “negligible.” The protesters are also demanding an increase in pay for night shifts. They believe that the collective labour agreement is not an effective mechanism for guaranteeing adequate compensation for young doctors.