HIGHER WAGES FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

The minimum wage for health care workers will increase by average 15%-30%, Bulgaria’s Minister of Health Petar Moskov said on 10th of October at the signing of the collective bargaining agreement in the health care sector. Two of the largest employers, however, did not sign.

The reason was in their principle position that the size of the minimum wage had to be decided at national level first. The wage of a doctor with one specialization would increase from 700 BGN to 850 BGN. The wage of a chief nurse would become 720 BGN. Nurses, mid-wives, laboratory technicians, physio therapists, dental technicians should get at least 700 BGN.

Minister Moskov informed that according to the analysis made on 100 clinical pathways, the actual expense did not increase 30% and it is yet to identify where the other 70% go. Despite that, the minister thinks that the wage increase is realistic because of the overall increase of the funds for the health care system.

photo by BTA