Healthcare workers in Bulgaria will go on nationwide protest

They state that the reason is the unfulfilled promises of the government to increase the minimum salaries of all professionals in the sector, as well as the lack of opportunities for public funding of outpatient healthcare services.

In the new draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) for 2026, no funds have been allocated to reach the minimum starting salaries of €1,550 for healthcare specialists.

Bulgarian government submits revised 2026 budget to parliament

Iliana Iotova: The new draft budget – without a hint of necessary reforms

Instead of the promised €260 million, only €30 million have been allocated in the budget of the Ministry of Health, and they are intended solely for the creation of a support program for resident doctors, not for nurses.

“We Continue the Change”: This budget is in many ways worse than the previous

English version: R. Petkova