WORKING CONDITIONS OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS IN BULGARIA: ANALYSIS OF A SURVEY-BASED STUDY
Keywords:
general practitioners, working conditions, burnout syndrome, administrative burden, healthcare workforce crisisAbstract
The study analyzes the working conditions, workload, and professional satisfaction of general practitioners (GPs) in Bulgaria through a survey-based study conducted among 100 specialists between January and December 2025. Using descriptive statistics and comparative analysis, the results reveal critical overutilization: 55% of physicians manage patient
lists exceeding 1,500 people, and 75% report high physical fatigue. Key challenges include significant nursing staff shortages (50%), inadequate medical equipment (85%), and a high administrative burden, with 70% spending over two hours daily on bureaucracy. Consequently, the study identifies widespread professional burnout (80%) and low salary satisfaction (83%), leading nearly 45% of respondents to consider working abroad or leaving the profession. In conclusion, Bulgarian primary care is facing a severe personnel and organizational crisis. Urgent systemic measures, including payment model revisions, bureaucratic reduction, and targeted support for rural practices, are essential to prevent a total system collapse.
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