DANGEROUS LACK OF DOCTORS

The training of medical students is paid from foreign students’ tuition fees. The Hungarian medical training is in a critical condition. According to the rector of Semmelweis University at least 1200 doctors schould be trained annually but only 800 get their degrees.

Though a part of the academic training is subsidized by the state, another part is financed from the tuition fees of foreign students. Last year more foreign students were admitted than Hungarian ones. The foreign students pay the equivalent of HUF 2,5 billion for a year. The rector said the present lack of doctors could increase in a dangerous way, the Hungarian families are unable to pay the tuition fee which is HUF 2,5 million for an academic year.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that several doctors find jobs in other EU countries. Semmelweis University may lose its university rank if the parliament passes the bill about separating the University of Physical Education and Sports Science which would automatically result in the invalidity of the accreditation of Semmelweis University.

Translated by Péter Szentmihályi Szabó