The young doctors from the "Future in Bulgaria" initiative gathered in a national protest in front of the National Assembly, calling for support from all classes in the healthcare system, BNR reports.
Today, the deadline set by the ruling coalition to resolve the issue of paying healthcare workers expires.
Medics insist that their pay be tied to the average salary in the country, and not negotiated between employers and unions in a Collective Labor Agreement, as proposed by the ruling parties.
The protesters gathered on "Independence" Square between the buildings of the Presidency and the National Assembly. The demonstration is in support of all classes of the healthcare system - doctors, nurses, laboratory technicians, paramedics, orderlies, ambulance drivers, caregivers.
In support of the young medical professionals, representatives of various classes took part in the protest - nurses, laboratory technicians, paramedics, pharmacists. Ordinary citizens, families with small children and pensioners also came to support this cause.
At around 8:00 p.m., the protesting young doctors and their supporting citizens headed for a procession from the National Assembly to "Orlov Most", which was briefly blocked.
Vasilena Dimitrova from the initiative committee of "Future in Bulgaria" pointed out why the protesters are angry:
"We got angry because we saw that the deputies would not keep their promises. The promises were to make decisions before they went on vacation, and that will not happen. What made me extremely angry is the fact that after two months of protests and our many media appearances in which we beg these rulers, all the politicians, everyone involved in the issue, to make a decision and solve the problems we are emphasizing. At the moment when the report from the health committee began to be read in the plenary hall, 90% of the deputies left the hall, and then returned only when it was time to vote, without having heard any remarks, rejoinders and statements - nothing.
Svilen Delchev, who works as a nurse in a capital hospital, commented on whether the demands of all protesting classes are feasible:
"People who pay for healthcare, however, see that doctors are at the lowest social level in terms of pay. It is absurd that after taxes we receive a minimum wage of 4 euros per hour. We save people".
At the protest site on "Independence" Square, there was a point where young doctors measured blood pressure and distributed water. There they also explained their demands, namely - rules that would guarantee that the minimum wage is 150% of the national average, bonuses for night work and real payment for overtime work of the trainees.
Deputies from all parliamentary groups were also invited to get acquainted with the problems of the individual classes firsthand, and representatives of "Democratic Bulgaria" were present at the protest site.