Bulgaria to Triple Minimum Pay for Young Doctors and Nurses Following Protests

Government Approves Significant Healthcare Pay Increase

The Bulgarian government has announced plans to allocate €260 million to hospitals, a move set to significantly increase the minimum salaries for young doctors and nurses. This decision, which will see minimum pay for these professionals effectively tripled, comes after months of sustained protests by underpaid healthcare workers across the country. The new salary thresholds are slated to take effect in 2026.

The allocation is part of the National Health Insurance Fund's (NHIF) 2026 draft budget. The Joint Management Council made the decision on October 28, 2025, with the Health Ministry proposing the necessary budget correction the following day.

New Salary Benchmarks for Medical Professionals

Under the new plan, young doctors without specialization will receive a minimum monthly salary of €1,860, which represents 150% of the average gross salary. Nurses, midwives, and other medical staff are set to earn a minimum of €1,550, equivalent to 125% of the average gross salary.

These figures mark a substantial increase from previous minimums. The current collective agreement had set minimum starting salaries at €1,000 for doctors and €750 for nurses. The pay raises will also extend to other crucial healthcare professionals, including:

• Midwives
• Laboratory technicians
• Physiotherapists
• Hospital pharmacists
• Chemists
• Physicists
• Biologists
• Psychologists

Protests Pave the Way for Change

The government's decision is a direct response to widespread discontent and protests that began in the spring of 2025. Healthcare workers, particularly young doctors and nurses, demanded significant pay rises, improved working conditions, and better training opportunities.

Tensions escalated in September when Health Minister Silvi Kirilov controversially stated that Bulgaria's healthcare system 'does not rely on young doctors'. These remarks triggered two major protests in Sofia on October 7 and 15, where demonstrators blocked central intersections and vowed to continue until their demands for higher wages for the lowest-paid healthcare workers were met.

Protests were not limited to the capital, with demonstrations also taking place in cities such as Plovdiv, Varna, Pleven, Burgas, and Stara Zagora. The 'Future in Bulgaria' movement played a key role in organizing these actions.

Addressing Systemic Challenges in Bulgarian Healthcare

The financial injection, sourced as a transfer from the central budget rather than health contributions, aims to put an end to the ongoing protests and address a severe structural problem within the Bulgarian healthcare system: a critical shortage of nurses. Low wages have been a primary factor contributing to the outflow of medical professionals to Western Europe.

With these pay rises, Bulgaria's healthcare budget is projected to exceed a record €5.5 billion in 2026, representing nearly 5% of the country's GDP. While the increase is expected to slow the emigration of medical staff, experts suggest it may not completely halt it, as salaries will still remain lower than in wealthier European Union nations.