Resident doctors did not get along with Minister Radziwiłł. On October 2 they will start a nationwide protest. For many of them it will be a hunger protest. The mood among doctors was decided by the largest social networking site for doctors, Konsylium24.pl, here are the results of a survey conducted on over two thousand doctors throughout Poland.
Over 94 percent young doctors agree with the postulates of the protest organized by the Alliance of Residents of HMPA – according to a survey conducted from 22 to 27 September 2017 on a sample of 2,126 doctors, users of the largest social network for doctors, Konsylium24.pl.
A resident physician is a physician with full license to practice (he completed 6-year studies in medicine, passed the LEK final exam and completed a 13-month postgraduate internship) who undergoes specialization training. He performs the full range of duties specific to a specialist doctor, he also has the option of practicing outside the place of specialist training.
The Alliance of Residents of OZZL (PR) is an organization associating doctors who specialize in Poland. PR has carried out numerous actions aimed at improving the working conditions of resident doctors, including organizing a march of over 3 doctors through the streets of Warsaw. After several unsuccessful attempts to obtain a promise to meet their demands, young doctors concentrated in the PR, decided to conduct a protest action from 02 to 07 October 2017, the main part of which is to be a hunger strike.
The Konsylium24 medical service decided to take a look at the opinions of the entire medical community about the planned action. The results of a survey conducted on the website on a sample of 2,126 Polish doctors show what the actual state looks like. 02% of young doctors (up to 92 years’ seniority) and 8% of older doctors (over 74 years’ seniority) heard about the planned doctors’ strike on 9 October.
The postulates of PR include: improving the quality of specialization training, observing the law during specialization, regulating the issue of medical duty hours and increasing wages. Almost all young doctors (94%) and 74% of their older colleagues agree with the postulates of PR doctors. The content of the postulates is not known at all 4% and 26% of physicians from the younger and older age group, respectively.
The willingness to participate in the protest itself was expressed by a smaller percentage of young doctors than those supporting its demands – 36% of respondents will take part in the planned action, 33% have not made a decision yet, and 31% have declared that they will not join the protest.
There are several ways to participate in a protest. Doctors were asked which one seemed the best to them. The most radical form, i.e. the hunger strike, was indicated by 11% of young doctors and 8% of the elderly. Slightly more respondents indicated a manifestation of support by wearing a T-shirt with information about a protest (12% young and 14% older). “Leave for childcare” was selected by 3% of young and 4% of senior doctors, respectively, “leave on demand” by 28% and 36%, and blood donation for a day off was chosen by 33% of young and 18% of older doctors. 3% of young doctors and 5% of older doctors said that doctors should not protest in this way.
The planned action of the Alliance of HMPA Residents is the next stage in the struggle of young doctors to improve their professional situation. The results of the survey showed that such activities are supported by the majority of the medical community. The willingness to change is important not only for the residents themselves, but also for the entire healthcare system in Poland. He suffers from significant staff shortages – at present, Poland has the smallest number of doctors per 1000 patients in the entire European Union. And Western neighbors tempt with attractive wages, standard working hours and compliance with workers’ rights. Will the planned action bring about any changes? Time will tell.