Russia has increased the number of medical school places by 3,000, a 10% rise compared to last year, as announced by Health Minister Mikhail Murashko. This increase comes amid concerns about the effectiveness of the targeted recruitment system, designed to address doctor shortages in rural areas.
Despite high competition for medical school admissions, the targeted recruitment system, which offers students tuition in exchange for working in specific medical institutions after graduation, struggles to fill quotas. Last year, only 89% of targeted training places were filled, with some universities leaving 20% vacant.
The reluctance to participate in targeted programs stems from several factors. Graduates are often dissatisfied with low salaries and heavy workloads in rural clinics, leading them to seek alternative employment. Neurologist Semyon Galperin, president of the “League for the Protection of Doctors,” points out that doctors frequently work at one and a half or two rates to earn a decent living.
The issue of inadequate compensation for doctors extends beyond base salaries. The Labor Code’s requirement for annual wage adjustments to account for inflation is often ignored. Many doctors do not receive salaries equivalent to two average salaries in their region, despite presidential decrees mandating such compensation.
Readers share numerous negative experiences with the healthcare system. These accounts highlight problems such as doctors showing indifference, a high turnover of personnel, focus on profit over care, and continuous rudeness from medical staff.
Doctors’ low earnings compared to other professions contribute to staff shortages. One reader shared the story of their psychiatrist son who earns less than a courier, despite years of education and good patient reviews.
The reasons for staff turnover are obvious: high workload, low salary and bureaucratic red tape. One former local therapist recalls having a workload three times larger than the norm due to doctor shortages and restrictions on tests and specialist consultations.