A regular meeting of the Health Sector Business Council was held in. Smolyan

On 24.03.2023 at 17:00 in the town of. The regular meeting of the Business Council in the sector of Health in the border regions of Blagoevgrad, Haskovo, Kardzhali and Smolyan was held in Smolyan, the activity is implemented under the project "Business Council - BC 6275" funded by the INTERREG V/A GREECE-BULGARIA 2014-2020 Programme, Subsidy contract № B6.3a.18/13.04.2021.

The meeting was attended by five representatives of the sector from the border regions of Haskovo, Kardzhali, Blagoevgrad and Smolyan. The meeting was held in the Rotary Hall , Hotel "Kiparis Alfa", Sofia. Smolyan. It was technically equipped with multimedia, laptop, printer, microphone(s) and sound system, as well as information boards, banner and presentation materials, according to the requirements of the Communication and Publicity Manual of the Interreg V/A Greece-Bulgaria 2014-2020 Programme. In addition, disinfectants as well as water, coffee and tea were provided to secure the coffee break of the event.

The moderator of the event welcomed all attendees, leaving time for a brief introduction of the new business council members. A few minutes were taken to present the Rules of Procedure of the BS in the health sector.

The sector representatives present expressed their concerns about the lack of a regular government and the long delay in the adoption of the state budget. This in turn leads to a number of problems related to the inability to increase the salaries of various employees in the sector.

The most worried were the ambulance drivers in the ambulance stations in the district.

As low-skilled staff, the wages drivers receive are among the lowest in the sector. This, and the fact that many of the drivers are of retirement age - there is a real shortage of young people willing to work in this position - creates a looming staffing crisis that is actually life-threatening.

The members of the council agreed that it is necessary to work in a direction that would increase the attractiveness of the profession. One way to do this is by raising salaries to a level that is attractive to young people.

The provision of certain social and tax incentives by local authorities are also means that could attract new labour to the sector.

The Council decided to organise an information campaign - in the form of leaflets to be distributed in educational establishments in the district.