More than 200 doctors and nurses from Bourgas protested for one hour yesterday. The medics expressed their discontent with the changes to hospital funding the Health Ministry plans to introduce.

Labour union KNSB Podkrepa stands behind the protest, Dnevnik newspaper reported. The salaries of both doctors and nurses will decrease between 30 and 50 per cent as a result of the new policies, union representatives said.

This is the first medics’ protests from the series KNSB Podkrepa organised. According to the schedule the staff of 22 hospitals and medical centres in different cities will participate in protest activities. Such demonstrations will occur until April 14.

The union demands increase of healthcare funds to eight per cent of the GDP instead of the current 4.4 per cent. Podkrepa also hopes to ensure higher wages for doctors and state aid for hospital debts.

Wages in different hospitals vary at the moment. The sums depend on hospital debts and income. In 2006 most state-run hospitals registered higher income compared to the previous year. The average increase is 20 per cent.

Medical supply companies that need to receive money from hospitals have not agreed with the Health Ministry on a re-payment mechanism.