# Bulgarian healthcare system reforms and workforce shortages > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-healthcare-system-reforms-and-workforce-shortages > Updated: 2026-09-29T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. Bulgaria is addressing systemic challenges within its healthcare system, including rising costs, budget deficits, and medical staff shortages. Initial discussions focused on structural and economic reforms, such as potential changes to pharmaceutical policy and the possible restructuring of the National Council on Prices and Reimbursement of Medicinal Products into a unified “mega agency.” There have also been calls to transition the National Health Insurance Fund toward quality-focused treatment models. To combat workforce shortages, the Bulgarian Ministry of Health has implemented initiatives to expand medical specialization. The ministry announced 15 additional training positions in critical fields, including neonatology, pediatric psychiatry, and infectious diseases. Under the project ‘Encouraging Specialization in Specialties and Fields with a Shortage of Specialists’, approved specialists receive a monthly financial incentive equivalent to 2.5 minimum wages to supplement their regular income. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-29: Bulgaria expands medical specialization positions to address shortages Bulgaria's Ministry of Health added 15 medical specialization positions to address shortages, offering monthly incentives of 2.5 minimum wages to approved specialists. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgaria-expands-medical-specialization-positions-to-address-shortages ### 2026-09-03: Bulgaria healthcare system faces structural and economic reforms Bulgaria's healthcare sector faces critical challenges, including pharmaceutical policy reforms, budget pressures on the National Health Insurance Fund, and medical staff shortages. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bulgaria-healthcare-system-faces-structural-and-economic-reforms --- Cite as: Bulgarian healthcare system reforms and workforce shortages. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/bulgarian-healthcare-system-reforms-and-workforce-shortages