Doctors and Nurses from Vratsa Hospital Protest over Delayed Wages

Doctors and nurses from the hospital in the Northern Bulgarian city of Vratsa staged a protest on 14^th of May because the payment of their salaries has been delayed for 3 months. The protesting doctors threw eggs at Deputy Minister Zheni Nacheva, who arrived in the the hospital to present the new director and to calm the staff that the hospital would not close down. The crisis, however, deepens as doctors continue to leave their jobs. Five wards have been closed so far, the intensive care ward has not worked for a week, which results in difficulties for the work of surgeons, orthopedists and gynecologists.

The emergency department of the hospital also does not have sufficient staff to prepare the shifts schedule. The health ministry once again promised an urgent solution to the problems of the hospital, which has millions of debts, and called for the medics to return to their jobs.

Zheni Nacheva, the Deputy Minister of Health urged the dctors to return to their jobs. By the end of June, we will overcome the delay in the pay. Today, the hospital received funds for the staff for February, she added.