FfW Bulgarian report (English language) - Fit for Work Europe

Figure 3.1. Number of MSDs inpatients in Bulgaria, per 100,000 population
Number of inpatients
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
383.8
Work and MSDs in Bulgaria
Although many have tried, it remains difficult to quantify precisely the extent of MSDs in the
working age population of Bulgaria. The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living
and Working Conditions (Eurofound, 2007a) has repeatedly found it difficult to build a reliable
statistical portrait of MSDs in Bulgaria. Although the data is collected both through national
registers and employee surveys (Eurofound, 2007a), many episodes of occupational diseases
are unreported due to employee fears of losing their jobs (WHO, 2009).
The National Centre of Health Information (NCHI) records the number of cases of
musculoskeletal disorders and the numbers of days lost per 100 insured employees. After
respiratory diseases, musculoskeletal disorders are the second highest cause of illness per 100
insured employees, with an average of 13.2 days lost due to musculoskeletal disorders (see
Table 3.1). It is clear that MSDs cause comparatively longer spells of sickness absence, as the
number of cases of MSDs is low, while the number of days lost due to these conditions is high.
Table 3.1. Insured people with temporary incapacity: top reasons for incapacity
Number of cases,
per 100 Insured
Number of days
lost, per 100 insured
Average number
of days lost
Respiratory diseases 28.8 178.9 6.2
Musculoskeletal disorders 9.4 124.1 13.2
Diseases of the nervous system
and sensory organs
299.2 318.1 301.9
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
9.4 95.1 10.1
Infectious and parasitic diseases 8.7 47.9 5.5
Injuries and poisonings 7.5 152.4 20.3
Fit For Work? 19
589
738.4
711.9
807.5
Source: The National Centre for Heath Information. See http://www.nchi.government.bg/
995
Source: NCHI. See http://www.nchi.government.bg