site.btaUPDATED Health Minister Hinkov to Propose Salary Threshold for Medical Staff by Year-end

Minister of Health Hristo Hinkov said in an interview for Nova TV on Tuesday that by the end of the year he is planning to propose the introduction a threshold and a salary ceiling in medical institutions through the relevant regulatory mechanisms. According to Hinkov, it is necessary to set standards that would apply to hospitals with more than 51% state participation.

Later Tuesday, the Minister clarified that he is not planning to introduce a ceiling on medical staff's salaries but a cap on the margin between the lowest and the highest wages. He specified that this margin must be determined and added that the discussion is about the salary and not the doctors' income, which is formed on the basis of the salary and additional practices.

Hinkov said: "The problem with the lack of appeal of the medical profession has been deepening over the years, and the public should be aware of the main reasons for this". He listed the large volume of work and the high expectations from the medical staff as some of those reasons and added: "Pay, however high, does not compensate for the exhaustion of doctors, nurses, all medical staff".

On July 17, Hinkov stated that he will be fighting to have the Emergency Aid money to be substantially increased.