Discussion on prevention of aggressive behaviour towards health workers

Ways to prevent violent and aggressive behaviour towards doctors and health workers are discussed at a forum organised by the Bulgarian Association of Healthcare Professionals on 12th of February.

Use of socially useful labour as a punishment for aggressive patients, as well as the establishment of a database for such patientsare among the ideas for measures to tackle violence towards medical workers.

“Our role is to treat illnesses of the patients, not to fight” is the motto of discussion. Data shows that in addition to physical violence, doctors increasingly become victims of verbal abuse as well.

Alarming statistics were reported at the forum showing that more than 100 cases of attacks against health workers from the emergency medical care happened over the past 2 years.

According to doctors, the administrative fines imposed for violence towards doctors are not effective.

A national campaign will be organised across the country and in roma neighbourhoods, together with mediators. It will be explained how the health care system works.