The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic is working hard to reform the education of health workers and has taken a number of measures in the field of health education in order to ensure sufficient qualified health professionals in the system.
The health sector is aware of the importance of changes in health education. It is working intensively to attract as many qualified health professionals as possible to help improve health care. said State Secretary of the Ministry of Health Lenka Dunajová Družkovská. In the coming days, a Memorandum of Cooperation on Education Reform will also be signed between the Ministry of Health, Medical Faculties, professional companies, professional and trade unions representing doctors, as well as employers' representatives.
The objective of the memorandum is to develop, on the basis of technical background and practical requirements, changes in the field of medical education that will contribute to the stabilisation of medical staff in the system.
The Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic has already implemented several changes in the past period, such as recognition of education, specialization study or certification training.
The resort approached changes in education and recognition of education.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, health establishments can also use future doctors and future nurses to carry out their work activities, who can work under the supervision of qualified professionals in health institutions.
- At the same time, there has been a clear definition of practical teaching in health institutions Other health professionals - psychologists, logopedos, medical educators, physicists and laboratory diagnostics - have been removed from compulsory six months' training in health care.
It was also modified further training of healthcare professionals :
- After a probationary period, a healthcare professional may ask his employer to apply for inclusion in a specialisation study. He shall, in agreement with the staff member, lodge a request within 30 days of its receipt at the latest.
- The educational establishment enrolled in the study throughout the year, except for resident studies.
- It is possible to count health performances and professional experience completed in Slovakia as well as abroad, and professional practice over the scope of weekly working time specified in the specialization study.
The educational establishments have received new obligations regarding specialisation studies for the benefit of candidates:
- publication on its website of the dates of specialist examinations for doctors and dentists for the following calendar year
- conducting a specialist examination in the relevant specialist field for doctors and dentists on at least four dates in the relevant calendar year
- the possibility of a repair specialist examination in the relevant specialist field for doctors and dentists in the nearest period, not more than twice and not later than two years after the failure to complete the specialist examination in due time.
The healthcare professional can change the field no more than twice during his/her inclusion in a specialisation study - originally only once.
The Resident study programme, which seeks to address the lack of general doctors for adults and paediatricians, as well as other shortcomings in specialization fields, continues.
- return to the original funding system through the educational establishment providing funding to the employer of the resident
- Expanding the grounds for interrupting a resident study to other circumstances worthy of particular consideration
- educational institutions are obliged to send a list of graduates of residents to municipalities
- a repair specialization test not later than six months after the date of the failed completion of the specialization test in due time and another repair specialization test no later than six months after the date of the failed completion of the repair specialization test.
The resort also adopted changes in the field of recognition of education acquired outside the Slovak Republic.
The application of third-country healthcare professionals concerns:
- the possibility of carrying out temporary vocational traineeships for persons who have obtained a medical education in the territory of third countries and who have recognised evidence of education (Ministry of Education) in all health establishments (https://www.health.gov.sk/?recognition-qualification-docasna-professional-staz)
- The possibility of online language training for healthcare professionals from Ukraine (https://www.fmed.uniba.sk/office/theoretick-status/state-of-other-languages-lf-uk/course-slovak-language/)
- shortening the time limits for the recognition of evidence of further training of healthcare professionals obtained in third countries.
The process of recognising evidence of further training of healthcare professionals obtained on the territory of the Member States has been streamlined:
- debuking the requirements for submitting the required documents
- shortening the time limits for recognition of evidence of further training of healthcare professionals.
It has also simplified the demonstration of national language control for foreigners:
- foreigners who have passed an additional examination in Slovak language in the process of recognition of qualifications acquired outside the Slovak Republic and foreigners who have completed their studies in the state language do not need to demonstrate the control of the state language
- during a crisis situation due to COVID-19 disease it is possible to control the state language can be shown by an honorable statement.
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