Better conditions for medical specialists would help












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            * Better conditions for medical specialists would help
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            quell brain drain, says the dean of the First Faculty of Medicine

            “Better pay and promising careers leading to brain drain in health sector” or similar head
            been a staple in the Czech media and statistics indeed point to some 10 percent of graduat
            faculties heading abroad upon completing their studies. In 2018, the Czech Medical Chamber

            departure of 193 recent graduates.
            The country’s Health Minister Adam Vojtěch is hoping to quell the departure of new doctors
            measures requiring future specialists to work three or four years in the Czech Republic be

            abroad.
            Medical students post-graduation continue with professional training in residency – which 

            doctors in-depth training and hands-on experience in specific branches of medicine. The Mi
            is weighing whether to double subsidies for residential posts but there is a condition – t
            would have to sign a contract that would bind them for several years. How do you view the 

            Medical students post-graduation continue with professional training in residency – which 
            doctors in-depth training and hands-on experience in specific branches of medicine. The Mi
            is weighing whether to double subsidies for residential posts but there is a condition – t

            would have to sign a contract that would bind them for several years. How do you view the 
            “Whether we are talking about specialization for doctors or for top pilots, it is clear th
            specialization greatly improves their position on the labour market. If the state invests 

            training, I think that beneficiaries should also carry certain responsibility.”
            If the minister’s proposal is enacted would it effectively block the departure of Czech-tr
            specialists abroad?

            “First off, the departure of such specialists is not as frequent as is sometimes presented
            that in some cases the loss of such staff can negatively impact the functioning of concret
            think that a buffer period before post-graduates could leave medical facilities where they

            combined with state funds improving the position of experts (from a economic, professional
            perspective) would make it less attractive for post-grads to depart abroad – I think we wo
            decrease in interest.”

            If it doesn’t go through, are there other conditions that could make it more attractive fo
            to stay in the Czech Republic?
            “If we look at the situation more broadly, we see there are countless jobs our specialists

            from day one, whether they are pilots, sports people, professional sports servicemen and w
            or skilled artisans. The economic strength of individual sectors (as well as states as a w
            important role in [such decisions].

            “But it doesn’t only affect us: Germany sees the departure of specialists, for example, to
            There are also many other individual factors that all play a role when it comes to decidin
            familial reasons, the prestige of facilities where they have a chance to work, the promise

            growth and more. The best solution would be for our own health sector to achieve a similar
            Germany or Switzerland’s… ”
            By Marcela Uhlíková

            Translated by Jan Velinger
            March 1, 2019