Budapest’s psychiatric care system is facing a potential collapse as doctors signal they will end voluntary overtime work, a move that could severely strain already limited resources. The escalating crisis highlights growing concerns over staffing levels and systemic issues within Hungary’s mental healthcare infrastructure.
More than 500 psychiatrists across the country have signed a declaration of solidarity in response to the situation in Budapest, where doctors have indicated they will discontinue voluntary overtime shifts starting March 31, 2026. The decision follows warnings that the current conditions are unsustainable for providing safe and effective emergency psychiatric care.
The Hungarian Medical Chamber (MOK) published a statement outlining the concerns, emphasizing that this is not limited to a small group of specialists. The signatories represent all regions of the country and encompass the full spectrum of care, including residents, department heads, university professors, doctors working in acute care settings, private practitioners, and staff at university centers.
According to the declaration, a broad range of psychiatric professionals feel a personal responsibility for ensuring the safety of care and support the demands formulated by their colleagues in Budapest to achieve a sustainable system.
Overtime Ends in March
In a statement released February 17, 2026, psychiatrists in Budapest wrote that maintaining the functionality of the capital’s psychiatric care system requires urgent intervention. Without it, they will cease voluntary overtime work as of March 31, 2026.
They stressed that this is not a rejection of their core responsibilities, but rather a halt to the extra shifts that have been essential to keeping the system operational.
The national declaration of solidarity states that ending voluntary overtime is not intended to harm patients, but to protect the sustainability of the system. Signatories believe this step stems from a sense of professional responsibility.
Three Specific Demands
The declaration outlines three policy demands:
- The appointment of a psychiatrist as interim CEO of the National Institute of Psychiatry and Addiction (OPAI), capable of restoring professional trust and stabilizing operations.
- Ensuring the presence of a specialist physician at all psychiatric emergency services.
- Strengthening the structural and infrastructural foundations of the psychiatric care system in Budapest.
The document directly appeals to decision-makers, urging them to take the steps identified by the profession to ensure the safety of psychiatric care for the Hungarian population.
Not Just a Budapest Issue
One of the strongest assertions in the declaration of solidarity is that the crisis in psychiatric care is not solely a problem for the capital. Signatories say they experience the critical situation daily in outpatient clinics, care facilities, and rural healthcare centers.
The document points to systemic problems, including chronic staff shortages, infrastructural deficiencies, and a lack of professional dialogue. Professionals say these are not isolated issues, but structural problems that have been straining the care system for some time.
Overburdened System, Growing Demand
The prevalence of mental disorders is increasing worldwide, while the supply of psychiatric professionals is limited in many countries – including Hungary. Acute care units, emergency services, and outpatient clinics are operating under increasing strain, with the profession stating they are often able to function only thanks to the extra work of doctors.
This action goes beyond an institutional conflict: it raises the question of whether the current operating model is sustainable.
The message from the signatories is clear: the system is no longer relying on reserves, but on voluntary extra effort.
How decision-makers will respond to this national show of solidarity from the profession will become clear in the coming weeks. March 31 is the deadline – and this is a potential turning point not only for emergency services in Budapest, but for the future of the entire psychiatric care system.
(Cover image: Maskot / Getty Images)
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