site.btaStudent Enrolment in Medical Universities Will Not be Reduced This Academic Year

Student Enrolment in Medical Universities Will Not be Reduced This Academic Year

Sofia, February 16 (BTA) - In the next two or three months no changes will be made in the relevant coefficients for professional occupations at medical universities, nor will the enrolment quota of students be changed, caretaker Minister of Health Nikolai Denkov said Thursday. He was emerging from a meeting with the rectors of medical universities in Bulgaria.

Other means will be sought to support other professional lines.

Denkov said there is no financial problem for medical universities. There is no reduction - or if any that is very small, less than 1.0 per cent - in two of the higher educational establishments offering education in medicine. However, the subsidy for this year has been increased in net terms more than the reduction, the minister said.

Denkov underscored that medical universities and medical education in Bulgaria are of high quality and that this can be proved by various objective indicators. In his words, the medical education in this country is an example that other professional niches should use to attract foreign students and how to use the state subsidy.

The university rectors underscored that there should not be such a considerable difference between the individual profession, but that the solution of the problem should not be reduction of funding, but rather an increase of the underestimated. They also commented of the deficit of doctors in Bulgaria and in Europe, as well as on the ageing of the incumbent - after five or six years up to 40 per cent of the doctors will have retired. Between eight and ten young people apply for one place in medical universities, as well as another three foreign candidates, the rectors said.

Denkov also noted that there is really a shortage of medical staff, but the same has been registered in other occupations in Bulgaria, such as teachers and engineers.