ІІІ. PROTECTION OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES In October 2020, the Ministry of Health published a Draft Strategy for the Mental Health of the Citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria 2020-2030 along with the respective Action Plan and a deadline to submit opinions – 1 November 2020. In line with the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Critical findings Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or The systemic shortage of Punishment, the Ombudsman of the funding for state psychiatric Republic of Bulgaria acting as the NPM help continues which hampers the provision of monitors annually state psychiatric quality medical care. hospitals (SPH), mental health centres (MHC), social institutions for persons with Main recommendations: mental disorders. The main recommendation the Ombudsman as the Streamline the funding NPM has made over the years to the mechanism for all inpatient institutions for persons with Ministry of Health concerns the launch of mental disorders; It should urgent reforms in the sector of state be tied to the quality of the psychiatric help. In this regard, the NPM medical services provided; submitted an opinion to the Ministry of Health. In 2020, the NPM carried out three inspections at inpatient psychiatric institutions: Sevlievo SPH; Tserova Koria SPH, Byala SPH. Improvement in the housing conditions was found in Sevlievo SPH and Tserova Koria SPH in comparison to the recommendations from previous inspections (2013 and 2014); in Byala SPH, however, the recommendations from the 2013 inspection were not implemented. Attract more applicants to the specialties “Psychiatry” and “Child Psychiatry”; Prepare an assessment for relocation tied to the restructuring of all state psychiatric hospitals; Launch a sufficient number of appropriate social services for children and adults with mental disorders; The NPM has found two main Develop a medical standard problems in the provision of psychiatric care “Child Psychiatry” at state psychiatric hospitals: the manner of funding and the lack of human resources. The budget is a key tool in the management of the activities at psychiatric hospitals to ensure respect for the patients’ rights. Over the past three years, the budget from the Maintenance Fund which covers the expenses for heating, water, food, medicines, bed linen, medical 13