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«We are in the third wave of the epidemic, hospitals are struggling with the lack of doctors. Artwork is unfilled, temporary hospitals are out of staff. Hundreds of doctors taking the National Specialization Examination (PES) have been excluded from the system for many weeks “, writes” PES doctor “in a letter to MedTvoiLokony. This is not the only argument for canceling the oral part of the specialization examination.
- “Not all doctors are vaccinated, we are talking about pregnant doctors and those for whom there are simply no vaccinations”
- As our reader emphasizes, in the spring / autumn 2020 sessions, oral exams were canceled with fewer infections
- On March 1, the Resident Agreement sent a letter to the Minister of Health regarding the dismissal of the oral part of the PES for doctors. «So far, there is no comment on this matter»
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Letter to the editor regarding the cancellation of oral medical examinations
«I am writing to ask you for your interest in the subject of cancellation of oral medical examinations.
As you know, we are in the third wave of the COVID-19 epidemic, hospitals are struggling with the lack of doctors. Artwork is unfilled, temporary hospitals are out of staff. Hundreds of doctors joining the PES (National Specialization Examination – editorial note) have been excluded from the system for many weeks (due to preparation for the examination – editorial note). We have over 15 daily infections. Oral exams are scheduled even for May, which excludes these doctors from work. I would like to add that in the spring / autumn 2020 sessions, oral exams were canceled with fewer infections.
Not all doctors are vaccinated, we are talking about pregnant doctors and those for whom there are simply no vaccinations. I would also like to add that the places of oral examinations are often hundreds of kilometers away from the doctors’ place of residence.
Doctors from outside the EU are recruited to work on the “simplified” path. In yesterday’s interview at RMF, prof. Matyja said «that the Supreme Medical Council does not know whether the Ministry of Health checks doctors from outside the European Union who want to work in Poland. Please imagine that in two cases the applicants for the license to practice the profession did not come personally with this application – their representative presented a certificate confirming the knowledge of the Polish language. And when we contacted them to fill in these formal shortcomings, it turned out that we did not understand each other, that they did not know the Polish language ”.
The knowledge of Polish doctors is verified by a test and additionally by an oral exam. Meanwhile, our place is in the hospital with the sick.
On March 01.03.2021, XNUMX, the medical community sent a letter to the Minister of Health, Mr. Adam Niedzielski. So far, no comment has been made on this matter ».
Residents Agreement: is additional patient exposure warranted?
This document lists the arguments in favor of dismissing the nearest PES. The epidemic threat related to the organization of the oral part of the exam was pointed out. «(…) Quoting the words of the Minister: >> the apogee will take place more or less at the turn of March and April <<. Exactly at the time of most oral examinations "- indicates the Residents Alliance. It also reminds that not all doctors have been vaccinated against COVID-19, even pregnant women.
- How many doctors are actually vaccinated? “Information from the Ministry of Health misled the public opinion”
Residents also emphasize that oral examinations often take place in hospital wards, “often involving patients who are largely unvaccinated”. “If this argument in itself is not sufficient, I would like to ask you for an answer to the question of whether the additional exposure of patients to serious complications or death in the course of COVID-19, especially in the period of high incidence and new mutations of the virus, is justified?”
Additionally, several thousand doctors approaching PES in the upcoming session will have to spend a month to one and a half studying for the oral exam, after writing the test part. «The overwhelming majority of them will quit their jobs during this time. We must seriously take into account the threat that the health care system will again be unable to provide real help to all patients. One of the leading causes is the staff shortage »indicates the Residents Agreement.
The Supreme Medical Chamber is also in favor of exempting doctors joining the PES in the spring session from the oral part of this exam. In February, Andrzej Matyja, President of the Supreme Medical Council, approached Minister Niedzielski. «(…) the request is dictated by the concern for the safety of both those joining the oral part of PES, as well as their patients. (…) Anticipating the increasing burden on the health care system, decisions and actions should be taken that will minimize the risk of limiting its efficiency, in particular as a result of medical personnel illnesses ”, we read on the website of the Supreme Medical Council. “This is all the more important as the COVID-19 group 0 vaccination has not yet been completed, which means that people joining the oral PES may still be vulnerable to the virus.”
What will happen to the next medical National Specialization Examination? We sent the question to the Ministry of Health. We are waiting for answer.
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