Emergency Medical Services Protest in Southwest Bulgaria: Demanding Higher Wages and Better Conditions

Medical personnel working in emergency medical assistance centers in Southwest Bulgaria organized a protest in front of the hospital in Dupnitsa. The protesters' main demands are related to increasing remuneration, improving working conditions, and addressing long-standing systemic problems.

The chairman of the 'Zashtita' union, Krasimir Mitov, emphasized that proposals to secure funds for salaries in emergency medical services have been submitted to the state budget but have not yet been implemented. One of the key issues is the lack of a solution regarding the recognition of a higher labor category for employees in the system.

Among the main points of dissatisfaction are:

• Insufficient wages: Recent increases do not compensate for inflation and the high cost of living.
• Staffing problems: A serious shortage of personnel is observed, with a large portion of the workforce being of retirement age, while young specialists show no interest in the sector.
• Poor conditions and safety: Ambulance drivers face difficulties during emergencies (infarcts, strokes) due to speed restrictions, which often leads to aggression from stressed patients and their relatives.
• Outdated regulation: The ordinance on food vouchers has not been changed for nearly two decades.

The union warns that if the upcoming meeting with the Minister of Health at the end of the month does not lead to concrete measures, protest actions will continue. In the worst-case scenario, an escalation of the protest through blocking the border with Greece is also envisioned.