Rectors of medical universities debated in Gdańsk

23.05.2022

The Medical University of Gdańsk headed by the Rector, Prof. Marcin Gruchała, Chairman of the Conference of Rectors of Academic Medical Universities (Konferencja Rektorów Akademickich – KRAUM), was the host of its spring session. The meeting was held on May 18-20 in Tricity. Apart from the representatives of the authorities of KRAUM member universities, the talks were actively attended by the representatives of two Ministries. The Ministry of Health was represented by Deputy Minister Piotr Bromber, while the Ministry of Finance was represented by Deputy Minister Sebastian Skuza. Among the guests were also Deputy of the Patient’s Rights Ombudsman Grzegorz Błażewicz and Director of the Department of Strategy and Systemic Activities Jakub Adamski.

Rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk, Prof. Marcin Gruchala welcomed the guests and described the agenda, including the minutes of the last meeting of the Conference. In his introduction, the Chairman of KRAUM invited for a free exchange of thoughts and expressed hope for a fruitful and constructive discussion. The talks began with the training of medics and considering the possibility of a voluntary postgraduate internship to avoid its complete abolition. Next, the Rector of the Medical University of Warsaw, Professor Zbigniew Gaciong, presented the current arrangements concerning the rules of admitting students from Ukraine and their opportunities to continue education in Poland as part of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange Solidarity with Ukraine project. Another topic was the problems of graduates of English-Division studies and revisions of the Act on the Profession of Medical Doctor and Dentist. The discussion with the participation of Minister Piotr Bromber focused on the development of educational standards and changes in the field of physiotherapy. The representative of the Ministry of Health in his speech emphasized that the key to the changes is betting on standardization and proper evaluation instead of more exams for students. To ensure adequate teaching standards, medicine should move towards teamwork and partnership between disciplines, rather than prioritizing them.

Dr. Habil. Rafał Steć, Head of the Oncology Clinic of the clinical hospital of the Medical University of Warsaw, talked about the National Oncology Network project. In his lecture, he drew attention to the fact that fewer and fewer doctors decide to specialize in oncology. Prof. Steć suggested that in this case, it may be worth considering the creation of pilot centers for students and the appointment of an assistant position in oncology.

from the left: Deputy Minister Sebastian Skuza, Deputy Minister Piotr Bromber, Chairman of the KRAUM Prof. Marcin Gruchała, Deputy of the Patient’s Rights Ombudsman Grzegorz Błażewicz and Director of the Department of Strategy and Systemic Activities Jakub Adamski

Minister Sebastian Skuza then took the floor to discuss the financial status and salary issues of medical universities in Poland.

In the last part of the session, the participants discussed the issue of communication between the patient and the doctor. Minister Bromber encouraged active participation in the upcoming 1st Congress of Humanization of Medicine (I Kongres Humanizacji Medycyny), after which a letter from Bartłomiej Chmielowiec, the Patient’s Rights Ombudsman, was read by his Deputy – Grzegorz Błażewicz. Jakub Adamski Director of the Department of Strategy and Systemic Activities also took part in the discussion and emphasized the need to build specific attitudes at the very beginning of education in medical professions. In his lecture, he also discussed the status of hospital infections in Poland.

Within the framework of KRAUM, the participants had an opportunity to visit new buildings of the clinical hospital of the Medical University of Gdańsk. The guests were shown around the University Clinical Centre by Director General Jakub Kraszewski.

The next session will be held in Zielona Góra in September this year. Their organizer will be the Collegium Medicum of the University of Zielona Góra.

Photo: Paweł Sudara, Magda Boguska/MUG