Bulgarian Nurses Have Right to Protest, Says Health Minister

Jerusalem, 12 May, 2025 (TPS-IL) -- Ruse (BTA) – They have a right and we respect this right – this is how the Minister of Health, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Silvi Kirilov, commented on the nurses’ protest in Ruse today.

He stated that there are imbalances that are being worked on.

“I believe that there is currently an imbalance and we have taken measures to overcome this imbalance. Where we have the opportunity and resources to decide, we have already proposed such changes in the 2026 budget for some sectors of healthcare,” said Assoc. Prof. Kirilov.

He also said that with a decision of the National Assembly of August 12 last year, a strategy has been developed and work is underway on it. “It will be a protected profession. There are still many events. We are raising the image that we have talked about. We do not have a final decision yet. The Ministry of Education will submit these changes to the Council of Ministers, respectively to the National Assembly,” said Assoc. Prof. Kirilov.

The minister commented that there is a shortage of nurses in our country because not all who have graduated work in their profession.

Regarding the idea of ​​moving the employees of the Regional Health Inspectorate in Ruse to a new building – that of the former military hospital, the minister said that he hopes this will become a fact in the near future.

“We don’t have estimates yet. There is financial resources invested there. The issue needs to be discussed with another ministry. We need to do our calculations well and make a decision. It will most likely be positive, but right now I don’t have the estimates and figures to be able to make promises and say a deadline. But work is being done in this direction and I believe that we will reach a positive end,” said the Minister of Health.

Ruse Regional Governor Dragomir Draganov explained that the building of the former military hospital in Ruse is owned by the Ministry of Health.

“The important thing is that this issue has not been raised for 10 years, and now the topic is on the agenda. About 3.7 million leva have been invested in the renovation of this building. According to preliminary estimates, another 2.5 million leva will be needed to carry out the entire renovation,” Draganov explained.

In response to a question about whether a medical faculty could be opened in Ruse, Minister Kirilov stated that “this is a complicated procedure that goes through the Ministry of Education and Science and the parliamentary committee on education and science.”

“In order to implement such a project, enormous preliminary preparation is necessary. When this preparation is completed, I will be happy to support it,” the minister stated.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Silvi Kirilov is visiting Ruse at the invitation of the regional governor Dragomir Draganov.