News

29 May 2026

Ombudsman Velislava Delcheva sent a statement to Health Minister Katya Ivkova and to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Galab Donev, in which she urges that the "Maintenance" fund for state psychiatric hospitals when drafting the 2026 budget should not be reduced.

The Ombudsman’s position stems from a complaint filed by the Association of Employees at State Psychiatric Hospitals in Bulgaria regarding the Ministry of Health’s guidelines for preparing the 2026 draft budget, which should not exceed 90% of the total expenditure level in the 2025 budget.

According to the information, this effectively means a 10% reduction in the budget for state psychiatric hospitals, given that funding for their operation is already severely insufficient.

In her letter, the Ombudsman emphasises that the average daily food allowance for 2025 in state psychiatric hospitals is no more than 2.05 EUR (4 BGN) per day, while the daily medication allowance is no more than 1.02 EUR (2 BGN) per day. The same amounts are currently allocated for 2026, as the budget has not been changed. At the same time, according to data from the National Statistical Institute, inflation as of today, compared to last year, stands at 7%.

“The cost of treating a single patient in state psychiatric hospitals includes medication, food, electricity, water, heating, current repairs, consultations with other medical facilities (since people with mental illness also have physical ailments), materials for occupational therapy, art therapy, bedding, sometimes clothing and shoes, sanitary supplies, and other additional expenses,” notes Delcheva.

According to data from state psychiatric hospitals, the average daily cost is no more than 10.23 EUR (20 BGN), which covers all expenses for a single patient.

Velislava Delcheva warns that the only possible outcome of funding cuts will be a reduction in the number of beds or the refusal to admit patients due to a lack of financial resources. She also points out that state psychiatric hospitals rely solely on funding from the state budget and have no other sources of income.

In her statement, the Ombudsman also recalls the provision of Article 146, paragraph 2 of the Health Act, according to which every person with a mental disorder has the right to treatment and care under conditions equal to those of patients with other illnesses.

“As Ombudsman and in my capacity as the National Preventive Mechanism, I find it absolutely unacceptable to cut funding for state psychiatric hospitals, as this endangers the lives and health of patients and violates the right of people with mental illness to receive quality and timely medical care,” says Velislava Delcheva.

She further emphasises that for 14 years, one of the Institution’s key recommendations to the Ministry of Health has been precisely to increase funding for state psychiatric hospitals.

In conclusion, the Ombudsman calls on the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance to review the proposed budget parameters and ensure the necessary funding for state psychiatric hospitals in order to protect the lives, health, and dignity of patients.