Prague - Czech Ministry of Health wants to change the educational system for doctors and nurses.
Currently, young doctors have a problem securing positions after completing university. They often work without salary or even end up paying hospitals as much as 250 CZK per day.
Now, in the case of selected medical specializations the government wants to absorb such expenses itself.
Altogether the government is to pay 1.5 billion CZK annually for resident positions in hospitals that enable doctors to secure training.
"For one position we plan on 25,000 CZK. This should be divided between the doctor's salary and the expenses of the hospital," stated Deputy Minister of Healthcare Markéta Hellerová.
The funds will be guaranteed for the entire certification period of five to six years.
As long as the Law on Education of Doctors and Non-medical Professions is passed by parliament, the system could be working from next year.
GPs not needed
The government wants to use this approach as a way to solve, for example, the shortage of general practitioners.
It is they who have the most complicated career starts because from the perspective of hospitals they do not have a future.
For hospitals it should also be easier to secure accreditation for training medical workers, as they will not have to guarantee education in all departments, but only for a particular area.
The Czech system of training medical workers must be coordinated with European norms. The Ministry therefore is planning on canceling a second required certification of doctors.
Change in regulations
Doctors without certification as well would obtain the possibility of taking part in the treatment of patients after two years of practice.
"Today such a medical professional may not perform even simple tasks without competent supervision," explains Deputy Minister Hellerová.
The regulations for nurses should change too. For example, those who work with ambulances should be transferred to an intensive care unit without having to repeat their entire education, as is currently the case.
Every year the government will evaluate which medical professions suffer a shortage and require support.
"The advantage is that we can react to local problems as well. If, for example, the Karlovy Vary area is lacking heart surgeons, we will offer hospitals there resident positions for this area of specialization," adds Hellerová.
