Last year witnessed a notable surge in the number of Ukrainian nationals seeking opportunities in the Czech healthcare sector, with a total of 1,231 individuals enrolling for the requisite examination, marking a significant increase of a third from the preceding year, as per data released by the Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education (IPVZ) and the National Center for Nursing and Non-Medical Health Professions (NCONZO).

Of this cohort, 852 comprised Ukrainian doctors and pharmacists, while 379 were non-medical health professionals. Although the precise count of Ukrainians currently employed in the Czech healthcare system remains undisclosed, the influx of such personnel has been noticeable, with numerous hospitals welcoming scores of Ukrainian staff within the initial year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Before non-EU foreign nationals can practice as medical professionals in the Czech Republic, they are required to undergo a stringent process, including the recognition of their diplomas and degrees by Czech authorities, along with passing examinations to assess their language proficiency and professional competence in Czech.

Health Ministry spokesperson Ondrej Jakob highlighted the establishment of a dedicated contact center at the Brno Nursing Center in spring 2022, aimed at aiding foreign health professionals throughout the adaptation process. This initiative encompasses support ranging from diploma recognition to certification exams assessing professional competency.

Statistics indicate a noteworthy challenge faced by aspiring healthcare professionals, particularly doctors and dentists, with a significant percentage failing their initial attempts at the examination. IPVZ spokesperson Jan Brodsky revealed success rates for pharmacists at 75%, physicians at 68%, and dentists at 52% in the previous year. The upcoming examination session is poised to witness 377 physicians, 91 dentists, and 19 pharmacists.

Petra Kucharikova from NCONZO shed light on the annual influx of approximately 200 non-medical health professionals applying for exams, with a commendable success rate of approximately 77%.

Furthermore, the Health Ministry facilitates internships for health professionals in hospitals, spanning 12 months initially and extendable up to twice that duration. Jakob emphasized the necessity for every health worker to undergo an approbation exam during this tenure to obtain recognition for practicing in the Czech Republic without limitations.

The internship program witnessed participation from 304 health professionals in 2022, followed by 235 in the subsequent year, with 12 individuals commencing their internships in January this year.

Article by Prague Forum