Inclusion of Ukrainian migrant medical professionals in the Bulgarian health system - Poster/Study Summary

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa

Study analyzes enabling conditions in Bulgaria for Ukrainian migrants with medical education to integrate into the national healthcare system. Context addresses health-system staffing shortages and legal pathways based on migrants’ educational status. Evidence includes interviews with physicians applying for recognition of acquired higher education under Bulgarian regulations for foreign training. Findings describe certification by Medical University of Pleven since end of 2022 for 32 professionals, their specialty patterns, early workplace placement in northern and Black Sea facilities, and gradual inclusion into healthcare roles during document and specialty recognition.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Conclusion

Equal access to labor market and team medical activities

Background

Staffing shortages and legal inclusion pathways

Aim and Methods

Interviews for recognition of foreign education

vi126 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 35, Supplement 6, 2025 Conclusion: In Bulgaria, conditions have been created for equal access to the labor market of Ukrainian migrants with medical education and their inclusion in team medical activities. Abstract citation ID: ckaf180.348 62 Inclusion of Ukrainian migrant medical professionalsin the Bulgarian health system’s Vanya Nedkova-Milanova1, Mariyana Stoynovska1, Milena Karcheva1 1Medical University-Pleven, Pleven, Bulgaria EP2.2, e-Poster Terminal 2, September 3, 2025, 13:05-14:00 Staff shortages in Bulgaria’s health system make it difficult to provide medical care that meets the needs of migrants. Depending on their educational status, they can be included in various areas of healthcare according to the country’s legislation. In Bulgaria, 72,000 Ukrainians have been registered with temporary protection. Of these, 83% were employed in various occupations, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and dentists.The aim of the study was to analyze the conditions in Bulgaria that create the opportunity for migrants from Ukraine with medical education to join the healthcare system. An interview was conducted with physicians who applied for recognition of acquired higher education, according to Regulation on the state requirements for recognition of acquired higher education and completed periods of training in foreign higher education institutions. Results: Since the end of 2022, the Medical University of Pleven has been certifying the educational documents of 32 medical professionals from Ukraine. The doctors have one or two specialties such as pediatrics, neonatology, pediatric surgery, neurology, ophthalmology, internal medicine. Due to the linguistic proximity, from the first year of their stay in the country they start working in healthcare facilities in Northern Bulgaria and the Black Sea cities. They provide assistance to their countrymen in support places. During the period of their preparation for obtaining Bulgarian documents for medical education and a recognized specialty, they are included in the healthcare system in lower positions. Our study showed that they have good skills and good training received in Ukraine.

FAQs

What problem does the study address regarding migrant healthcare access in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria’s health-system staffing shortages make it difficult to provide care that meets migrants’ needs, and the study examines how educational status affects inclusion options under local legislation.

How were physicians’ applications for education recognition handled in the study?

The study conducted interviews with physicians who applied for recognition of acquired higher education, following Bulgarian regulations on recognition of foreign higher education and completed training periods.

What did the results show about recognition and workforce integration of Ukrainian medical professionals?

Since the end of 2022, Medical University of Pleven certified educational documents for 32 Ukrainian medical professionals, who began working in healthcare facilities in Northern Bulgaria and Black Sea cities and were included in the system in lower positions while documents and specialties were being recognized.

Sep 30, 2026

Uploaded by Elsa