site.btaState Budget Bill Provides for Increase of Wages at State Psychiatric Hospitals

The state budget bill for 2025 provides for a 5% increase in personnel expenditures from January 1 2025 for all establishments in the health care system, including state psychiatric hospitals, the Health Ministry said on Tuesday. The state budget bill also provides for an increase in the funding of inpatient treatment by 40%. An increase in upkeep by 28.64% from 2024 is also envisaged.

This increase is also insufficient compared with the expectations of the psychiatric care facilities. The Health Ministry has informed the Finance Ministry about the imbalance in staff remuneration in state psychiatric hospitals and mechanisms are being sought to find a sustainable solution to be reflected in the 2025-2028 budget estimates, the Health Ministry. 

As of December 31 2024, the average gross monthly salary of a nurse in state psychiatric hospitals was BGN 2,210 and of a doctor - BGN 3,139, the Health Ministry said.

Employees of the state psychiatric hospitals in Kardzhali, Sevlievo, Tserova Koria, Lovech are demanding a 50% increase in their salaries, as well as a change in working conditions and a change in the category of work.

Health Minister Silvi Kirilov said in February that the problems in psychiatric care have been accumulating for several decades. He said the system was underfunded, but there were plans to provide nearly BGN 288 million to state and municipal hospitals in additional funding.