Young specialists in medicine and pharmacy will benefit from increased allowances and compensation provided from the state budget. Also, medical and pharmaceutical specialists who reside outside the locality where they work will benefit from compensation to cover commuting expenses. This is provided in a bill to amend the law on health protection, which was given a first reading by Parliament, IPN reports.
Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco said that the new provisions aim to attract and maintain young specialists in the medical system, especially in rural areas and small towns.
Young specialists with higher education – optometrists, registered general nurses, radiologic technologist, etc. – were included in the list of beneficiaries of allowances and compensation granted from the state budget.
Under the legislative initiative, the mandatory period of activity has been extended from 3 to 5 years from the assignment. The period of granting benefits, including the increased allowance, to graduates with a bachelor’s degree in medicine and with postgraduate residency studies was also extended.
According to statistical data, about 12,600 doctors and 23,687 medical personnel with secondary education were active in the national health care system in 2022. A large shortage of specialists is experienced in such specialties as family medicine, anesthesia and intensive care, radiology and medical imaging, internal medicine, emergency medicine, cardiology and pediatrics.
The draft law to amend the law on health protection is to given a final reading.
