Zashtita National Trade Union Stages Protest, Demands Solution to Problems in Health Care

Momchil Rusev, Desislava Peeva

Photo from the protest (BTA Photo/Milena Stoykova)

Sofia,

12.03.2025 17:29

(BTA)

Representatives of the Zashtita [Protection] National Trade Union gathered at a protest in Sofia Wednesday demanding a solution to a number of problems in the health care system.

The demands of the protesters are to pay the over-limit activities of the hospitals, stop violence against medics, prevent the reduction of the values of clinical pathways, change the category of work of the workers in the emergency centers and affiliates and increase the value of their food coupons, among others. There should be concrete measures, with specific deadlines, Zashtita National Trade Union Krasimir Mitov told journalists.

Later in the day, representatives of the trade union met with Health Minister Silvi Kirilov. "There is almost no result, we are hearing things we have been hearing for years, but next week there will be another meeting," Mitov told reporters. "At this stage, they [the Ministry representatives] guarantee a minimal increase in funds for those working in the structures of secondary budget allocators - blood centres, psychiatric hospitals, etc. They also promised that the over-limit activity carried out by the hospitals will be paid for in the fastest way," Mitov said, adding that all the above was in the realm of promises.

He added that according to the Ministry representatives the procedure for changing the category of work for the workers in the centres and in the branches for emergency medical care has been reactivated and a working group will be established. "This is what we heard two years ago," he reminded, stressing that then the change in categorization was denied. During the meeting, it was pointed out that work is being done on the possibility of raising the value of the food coupons that medics receive at urgent care centers and affiliates.

"Next week there will be another meeting, but during this time we will continue to be here and we are waiting to hear from other ministries and the Parliament," said Krassimir Mitov.

/IV/