Shortage of doctors remains constant
The numbers of doctors and dental physicians in the health service remained unchanged between 2000 and 2003, according to a new report prepared for the MSAH by medical specialist Jarkko Ihalainen.
In 2003 11 % of doctor’s posts in health centres across Finland were unfilled, 1% more than in 2001. The figure for hospitals was 8%, compared to 9% before. But the shortage of dental doctors has more than doubled, from 3% in 2001 to 7% in 2003.
The main healthcare areas experiencing a lack of doctors are psychiatry, anaesthesiology, intensive care and radiology.
The MSAH is focusing on the need to recruit new members of the medical profession to ensure the sustainability of the health service, particularly in light of high retirement rates in the coming decade.