Bulgarian medics strike for higher pay, reforms

SOFIA, July 13 (Reuters) More than 2,000 medical workers at Bulgaria's largest hospital and emergency centre launched a partial, indefinite strike today, demanding higher wages and reforms to the country's ailing healthcare system.

The European Union newcomer has pledged to reform its inefficient, graft-prone health sector, but has done little to tackle the problems in the 17 years since the fall of communism.

The medics at Sofia's Pirogov hospital, state-run like most Bulgarian hospitals, have been protesting for several weeks about low pay, lack of funds and outdated equipment, and accuse Health Minister Radoslav Gaidarski of inaction.

''We are launching an indefinite strike today. We demand higher pay,'' said Dr. Svetozar Sardovski, spokesman of the Pirogov strike committee. Hospital equipment ''is 30 to 40 years old and poses a danger to patients,'' he added.

Doctors at the hospital are paid an average 500 levs (0) a month and nurses a maximum of 300 levs. Sardovski did not say what increase the strikers want.

The ministry said in a statement the strike was illegal because the medics had failed to comply with rules on calling a strike, and said it would challenge their action in court.

The medics said they would handle emergency patients, as the law requires, and postpone only non-urgent surgery.

They said they would stay on strike until the health minister agreed to sign a decree raising salaries with effect from Aug. 1.

Miners, pensioners and teachers have also been demanding higher incomes and better working conditions. The government has said fulfilling all demands could pose a risk to the economy. Bulgaria is the poorest of the European Union's 27 members.

REUTERS ARB KP1738