Only 5 out of 34 doctors from third countries had recognized qualifications in 2021
STA, 12 December – The Ministry of Health approved five of the 34 applications for recognition of professional qualifications of third-country doctors submitted this year and eight of the 42 applications submitted last year.
Under an emergency law that came into force ten years ago, the recognition of professional qualifications from third countries can be speeded up, where the Ministry of Health sets the maximum number of vacancies according to the demand of health workers.
The ceiling on the supply of employment for doctors from third countries was set at 130 in 2019, of which 55 for general practitioners. The ceiling was raised in response to the overburdening of family doctors.
Last year, the ministry set the ceiling at 257, of which up to 70 places were available for family doctors. Of the 42 applications received, the ministry has so far approved eight, of which only one is for family medicine.
Three applications were rejected or the procedure was completed, and 31 are still pending, the ministry told STA.
This year, the opening ceiling for doctors abroad was set at 281, of which 72 for family doctors or general practitioners. Of the 34 applications submitted, five have been approved so far, 26 are still pending and the remaining three have been disbanded.