The Bulgarian Union of Medical Assistants and Paramedics (UBLAF) once again strongly and categorically condemns the increased cases of aggression and violence against medical professionals.

It is unacceptable for relatives of a patient to use violence against a medical practitioner while he is providing assistance, as is the latest example of our colleague paramedic in Vratsa.

The professional organization of medical assistants and paramedics expresses its support, as well as its readiness to provide full assistance for the protection of our colleague. We expect the competent institutions to carry out the necessary actions in order to achieve justice in this unacceptable for our society case.

Every day on the frontline in unpredictable situations, emergency teams, many of whom are medical assistants and paramedics, take on a huge responsibility to save patients' lives. Often this happens without sufficient resources, personnel and public protection. The decent work of our colleagues should be respected and valued, not condemned, questioned, threatened or pressured. The mutual understanding, trust and respect between society and the medical profession is the foundation of a stable and effective health system.

We draw the attention of the institutions to the problem and invite them to actively take urgent, real and effective measures to protect the medical teams at their workplace.