Opinion|Reader’s opinion
In the next few years, a lot of specialists will leave health care.
Medicine more Finns are studying than ever before, and the number of basic doctors continues to grow. However, graduating as a doctor is only the beginning of vocational training. Training as a specialist from the beginning of medical studies takes a total of about 15 years.
In the next few years, a lot of specialists will leave health care. We must now invest in training new specialists, and existing ones must not be expelled under poor working conditions.
The accelerating retirement of specialists in itself makes training more difficult when there are not enough trainers for younger people. Specialist training therefore requires all actors, regardless of the sector, who are committed to ensuring the quality of the training.
Specialist medical training also ensures the supervised integration of those who have studied abroad as part of the Finnish health care system. More than 1,200 Finns study medicine abroad, and most of them return to Finland to work.
Specialists are an invaluable part of healthcare. There is also a need for general practitioners in health centers, not for ever-changing young people. To address the shortage of specialists, decision-makers need to take action.
The amount of training for doctors has increased considerably, but funding has not. It has reduced the quality of education. The same mistake must not be repeated in specialist training, but resources must be increased.
Articles that make it more difficult for the private sector to participate in education must be removed from the legislation. SOTE legislation must also define the important educational role of the service system. High-quality medical education is the key to effective healthcare.
Jesper Perälä
licentiate of medicine
President, Association of Young Doctors
Reader opinions are speeches written by HS readers, selected and delivered by HS editorial. You can leave a comment or read the principles of writing at www.hs.fi/kirjtamielipidekirjoitus/.
.
