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There is huge variation among medical income. The amount of remuneration is determined not only by seniority, academic titles, additionally paid duty hours, but also by specialization. Which of them are the worst paid? Among them are key specializations in the current coronavirus pandemic.
- Although it is hard to believe, salaries in some medical specialties do not exceed PLN 3. PLN net
- The list of the worst paid ones includes, among others infectious diseases and emergency medicine – specialties which, in the face of the pandemic, are crucial for the entire healthcare system in Poland
- Young doctors avoid some specialties from a distance. Why? Learning takes many years and earnings are below expectations. In addition, there is a lot of pressure and a direct threat to life and health in connection with work, for example, in the infectious diseases ward
- You can find more such stories on the TvoiLokony home page
Geriatrics – one of the least popular specializations
Although, according to the Ministry of Health, it is a priority specialization, there is still a shortage of people willing to work in the profession of geriatrician. According to data from 2018, there are only 417 doctors in Poland dealing with the prevention of premature and pathological aging, which means that 100 thousand of seniors, there is 0,8 of a geriatric doctor. In some provinces there is not a single one!
There are at least several reasons for the current state of affairs. First of all, working with the elderly is extremely hard – a doctor of this specialty is “two in one”, or actually in “one many” – an internist, psychiatrist, neurologist, orthopedist, diabetologist, cardiologist, ophthalmologist, ENT specialist and physiotherapist. Secondly, a good geriatrician can remedy not only health problems, but also those related to well-being, which is associated with a mental burden. The third reason is low salary, not exceeding the national average.
Infectious diseases poorly paid in Poland
We have been hearing for a long time that no one will have to work in infectious diseases wards and clinics. All because of that Medical graduates do not want to specialize in this field, and most of the working infectious agents are approaching retirement age.
What determines the lack of popularity of infectious diseases are unsatisfactory earnings, the presence of doctors on duty, and potential work-related risks. After all, it is the infectious disease doctor who deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites on a daily basis. The most common and best known infectious diseases include: AIDS, Lyme disease, cholera, plague, fever, three-day fever, malaria and dengue fever. In the face of the SARS-CoV-2 virus pandemic, doctors of this specialization are the most sought after today.
Also read: What does a doctor feel when he goes to the hospital during an epidemic?
Internal diseases among the lowest paid specializations
Although interna, the branch of medicine dealing with diseases of the internal organs, is called the “queen of medical science”, its position in the world has weakened significantly in recent years. Young doctors much more often choose specializations that give independence and the possibility of their own practice, and interna means one thing – hard work in the hospital. What’s more, it is one of the most extensive medical specializations – after 6 years of study, you still have to specialize in additional. There is a choice of nephrology, gastrology, endocrinology or rheumatology, but this takes another four years. The average salary of an internal medicine doctor of about 5 PLN net, it is not a sufficient incentive for residents.
Pathomorphology – how much do specialists earn?
He is one of the few specialists with whom we do not have the opportunity to meet. Mostly because he works in a laboratory where he examines and analyzes tissue samples taken from patients. Tissue material examinations carried out by pathomorphologists allow for the diagnosis and assessment of the advancement of neoplastic, inflammatory and degenerative diseases. In addition, they enable the assessment of the effectiveness of the therapy used and the determination of the cause of the patient’s death. Contrary to appearances, doctors choosing a specialization called “the nucleus of modern oncology” cannot count on a comfortable life. Earnings in this profession do not exceed the national average.
See also: There are only 500 pathomorphologists in Poland
Emergency medicine – how much does a paramedic earn?
We had the opportunity to see how hard the work of a paramedic is by reading Paweł Reszka’s report “Little Gods 2. How Poles Die?”. Severe accidents, sudden deaths, old people whose families are trying to get rid of for Christmas, wandering homeless people and alcoholics. In this profession, seconds count – you have to make decisions immediately and act quickly. Unfortunately, not everyone can stand this pace. As is the work-related mental stress. Although a paramedic is a very important and necessary profession – responsible tasks are not always properly rewarded. In earnings that do not exceed 3 thousand. PLN net is simply hard to believe.
This may interest you:
- Much or average? The Central Statistical Office (GUS) revealed how much doctors in Poland earn
- How much do nurses and paramedics earn? There was a specific amount
- “People lie because they don’t want rescuers dressed as aliens to come to them”
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