Medics from Vratsa Hospital Protest Delayed Pay

A spontaneous protest was staged on 3^rd of October by medical staff of the multiprofile hospital in the the city of Vratsa, North-West Bulgaria. The reason for their dissatisfaction is the enormous liabilities of the hospital as a result of which the staff salaries are paid only half of the remunerations after months of delay.

Sylvia Daskalova, who has had more than 20 years of experience as a nurse in the physiotherapy, says that the hospital has not been in such a difficult financial position so far. The latest payment she received was 60% of her July salary.

For several years, the hospital has been getting more and more into debt to suppliers of medicines and supplies. The debts are now estimated at 12 million BGN. As the medical institution's assets are only 4 million, the banks refuse to grant a loan for the hospital to continue working.

Borislav Stanev, a paramedic, says that attempts are made to prevent insolvency, but the problem comes from previous managments and incurred huge debts.

The last hope for the medics from Vratsa is the Ministry of Health. They expect financial rehabilitation for their hosptal, which is the largest in the North-West of Bulgaria. The Director of the the hospital will meet the Minister of Health later during the day.