Vice Prime Minister: We need to provide health workers in rural areas with motivational package

Personnel shortage is a burning issue in the development of rural medicine. The establishment of the primary health-care facilities is possible only with the guaranteed benefits package for medical personnel. At present, we have a catastrophic situation regarding the aging of the staffing of rural doctors. This is stated in the article written by Vice Prime Minister/Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko.

According to him, it is essential to solve the said problem at different levels, including in synergy with the Ministry of Healthcare of Ukraine and Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. "It is necessary to update educational programs for future doctors and medical staff - starting from medical schools to universities and postgraduate education. Among the initiatives are vocational guidance work with future school graduates. The issue at stake is creation of  specialized departments for rural residents in non-medical institutions of higher education, establishment of  profile classes in rural schools", stressed the Vice Prime Minister.

Hennadii Zubko placed a special emphasis on the fact that a motivational package for medical personnel is foreseen. "The legislative initiative encapsulates the proposal for providing the rural doctor not only with a workplace in a modern outpatient clinic, but also with decent salary and housing. First of all, it's about primary care physicians, they need to be provided with a motivational package," he underscored and added that provision of housing is of utmost importance in solving a staffing issue.