Original article (inSerbian) was published on 6/4/2024; Author: Teodora Koledin
A reader of Tragac brought to our attention an interview conducted with the Minister of Health on a technical mandate, Dr. Danica Grujicic, on Insajder television. The report highlighted a questionable claim made by the minister regarding the internship process for young doctors in Denmark. Upon investigating, we contacted the Danish Health Administration, which confirmed that Dr. Grujicic’s description of the internship procedures in Danish healthcare institutions was not entirely accurate.
Addressing the issue of a doctor shortage in Serbia, Dr. Grujicic claimed that in Denmark, medical students who graduate at the state’s expense must randomly draw a lottery ball to determine the city where they will work for two years post-graduation. “Everyone is seeking some kind of specialization. In Denmark, after you graduate from university on the state’s dime, you go to a designated place for two years, drawing a lottery ball with the name of the city where you must work,” Dr. Grujicic stated.
How to Arrive at “Drawing the Ball”?
To address this question, it’s important to outline how Denmark’s medical education system operates. Medical studies in Denmark span six years, divided into undergraduate and master’s phases. Upon earning their master’s degree, graduates must complete basic clinical training, known as KBU (kliniksin basisuddannelse), at a clinical institution. This 12-month program is essential for obtaining authorization for independent medical practice and is a prerequisite for further specialization. The National Board of Health oversees the internship registration, while regional authorities handle the recruitment.
Contrary to Dr. Grujicic’s colorful description, graduated medical students do not “draw the ball” for placements. Instead, they apply for basic clinical training and receive a serial number from the Danish Health Authority. Subsequently, they select their preferred training site from the options listed on the official website basislaege.dk. This platform clearly displays available training slots, specifying the medical field and the hiring institution.
Are Some Left Without a Choice?
The process by which young doctors select their desired KBU course is determined by a lottery system, which assigns choices randomly. Those assigned lower numbers get the opportunity to choose first, and as a result, they have a wider range of options. Conversely, those with higher numbers choose later, facing a more limited selection. However, one thing is certain: all candidates have a choice. This has been confirmed by the press service of the Danish Health Authority.
“It is not entirely accurate to say that future doctors in Denmark have no choice regarding the city in which they complete their KBU. When medical students register for KBU, they are assigned a lottery number by the Danish Health Authority. This number determines the order in which they can select courses on the website basislaege.dk. In practice, this means that some medical students will have more options to choose from than others. If you receive the highest lottery number, your options are considerably fewer,” explains Molly Mary Bierlich from the press service of the Danish Health Authority.
Additionally, it’s important to clarify that basic clinical training in Denmark consists of two six-month internships, totaling 12 months, not two years as Dr. Grujicic stated in the interview.