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Expressing its firm support for the demands for a fair and higher increase in the salaries of medical specialists, the Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics (BSLAF) emphasizes once again the need for a thorough review and reformatting of the foundations of our health system. There is no way palliative measures related to fiscal governance over a one-year horizon, such as the state budget, to solve conceptual problems and eliminate fundamental flaws. Expression of which are the inequalities and disproportions in the pay with public resource of the medical assistance provided to every Bulgarian citizen. The deficits of this model are clearly manifested by the huge share of the part of the money that flows directly out of the pocket of patients in the form of all sorts of extra payments.

At the same time, emergency care is stigmatised as the ‘guilty on duty’ for the uneven and disproportionate provision of primary and specialised outpatient care in all regions of the country.

There are also no mechanisms for valuing the work of medical specialists and real allocation of funds for their remuneration, despite numerous attempts to conduct a productive and constructive dialogue with everyone.

For all these reasons, BSLAF accepts the stated requests of colleagues as fully justified and morally and economically justified, and therefore calls on its members in all structures to participate in the protest actions with the sign "Protest"!

Diplomas for medical assistants were awarded to more than 20 graduates from the class of 2025 of the Burgas State University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov" at a ceremony held at the Congress Center of the city.

The event was attended by BLAF Vice-President Galina Zaharieva, the General Secretary of the organisation Hristo Ivanov, the President of RC Burgas Irina Zgurova and Borislava Stamatova, member of the BLAF Control Committee.  Among the official guests were also the Regional Governor of Burgas Vladimir Krumov, Mihail Nenov, Deputy Mayor for Education, Health, Social Activities and Youth Policies at Burgas Municipality, Mihail Hadjiyanev, Chairman of Burgas Municipal Council, Stefan Georgiev, Chairman of the Board of the Burgas Regional Tourist Chamber, Todor Stamboliev, Public Mediator of Burgas Municipality, Angel Stoykov, Chairman of the National Representation of Student Councils in the Republic of Bulgaria, Katya Misheva, Director of Education Directorate at Burgas Municipality, Maya Sarieva, District Coordinator of CITUB, Eng. Vidka Valcheva, Vice-President of the Burgas Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as well as rectors of the BDU from previous mandates.

Dear graduates, you received diplomas for a profession with over 145 years of history, which is extremely important for the future of Bulgarian healthcare. Be proud of your choice!

The Management Board of BSLAF wishes you to be healthy, satisfied with your work and respected by your patients and the society!

Congratulations on graduation! Good luck!

Deputy Chairman of the Board of BULFA Galina Zaharieva and Chief Assist. Lyubomir Marinov, Vice-President of the National Quality Council of UCLAF, participated in a round table on good practices in upgrading practical training in the specialties of Medical Assistant, Nurse and Midwife, organised by the South-West University of Neofit Rilski and the Medical University of Sofia.

In the context of a discussion on the advantages of simulation training, Chief Assist. Lyubomir Marinov reminded the audience that 50 percent of the training of medical assistants is practically directed. He expressed the opinion that despite the advances in technology, in the training of future medical assistants, live contact and conversation with the patient are important, which are decisive for the correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment. Marinov added that due to the specifics of the profession only 30% from this training can pass through simulations.

The forum, which took place on December 1, 2025 at Southwestern University, brought together lecturers, practitioners and representatives of professional organizations who discussed the current models of education, challenges and perspectives in the preparation of students from professional field 7.5. Health care.

“Today’s event is an expression of our maturity, ambition and will to be an active and constructive part of today’s healthcare system. Because we know that our role is specific and irreplaceable, and our future is our common mission! Our development is to work to a higher professional standard, with better recognition and greater opportunities for progress, both for each of us and for our entire guild.” With these words, Alexander Alexandrov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bulgarian Medical Association, addressed all those present at the opening of the First National Conference of Medical Assistants and Paramedics ‘Traditions in the Future’, which took place from 14 to 16 November in Tsarsko Selo Complex, Sofia.

“Our ambition is to preserve the experience and build on and share the invaluable skills we have gained over the years. To increase our knowledge and learn the latest scientific achievements and challenges in medical practice, requiring continuous training", Alexandrov further said in his address.

The forum was honored and officially opened by the manager of the National Health Insurance Fund Assoc. "Professions such as yours have a global application as a successful financially cost-effective model for training medical staff in conditions of expensive services and limited resources. I am convinced that your professional discussions, shared experiences and good practices that you will discuss during these three days at this first conference of its kind will have their public resonance and social dimension. And this is another step towards the more successful development of your profession and its implementation in the entire healthcare system in Bulgaria, "said Assoc. It's Stefanowski.

The Chairperson of the Health Committee of the 51st National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, Prof. Dr. Kostadin Angelov, MD, the Minister of Health, Assoc. Dr. Silvi Kirilov, MD, the Director of the Pazardzhik Medical Center, Dr. Boris Manev, the Chairperson of the Podkrepa Medical Federation, Rositsa Paleshnikova, and the Chairperson of BAPF, Lilyana Petrova, sent congratulatory addresses to the participants in the conference. Mrs. Pavlina Gerina from the Alliance of Bulgarian Midwives greeted all attendees.

More than 200 participants from all over the country took part in the first of its kind training of medical assistants/feldchers, attended with increased interest in the lectures of Assoc. Vanyo Mitev, Assoc.Prof. Dr. Angel Kunchev, PhD, Dr. Mariyana Simeonova, Prof. Dr. Nikolay Mladenov, PhD, Assoc. endovascular treatment in aortic dissection and aneurysm; prevention and treatment of Covid-19 and influenza; the development of the immunization calendar of the Republic of Bulgaria; patency and airway management; modern aspects of emergency assistance - challenges and possible solutions; stroke - modern aspects; some considerations on the treatment of infectious diseases in children in outpatient settings and violence against healthcare professionals.

A collection of publications from the conference will be published in December on the website of BLAF.

Photos from the National Conference of Medical Assistants and Paramedics "Traditions in the Future" can be found in our gallery.

Thank you to Aurubis Bulgaria to support the organisation of the First National Conference of Medical Assistants and Paramedics "Traditions in the Future".