The First Foreign Pediatrician in Slovakia

Full Step-by-Step Guide: How to Validate a Foreign Pediatrician Diploma in Slovakia. Instructions, Links, and Historical Context

One of Many: The Precedent That Transformed the System

“She waited five months for the Ministry of Education’s initial decision on whether her medical degrees would be recognized. It was denied. She filed an appeal. To no avail. ‘They didn’t even read it,’ she says sadly. She comes to this conclusion based on the reasons for the denial she read in the decision.

“I don’t understand why they didn’t even recognize the subject ‘pediatrics,’ even though I graduated from medical school as a pediatrician and completed more hours of training than you do here in Slovakia. The thing is, this subject is called ‘childhood diseases’ at universities in Ukraine, but in Slovakia it’s called ‘pediatrics,’” she explains. When she tried to meet with officials, they showed no interest. “I encountered nothing but a reluctance to understand my situation.”

The difference in training, she says, is that in Ukraine, doctors first study a general medical curriculum and then specialize. In Ukraine, it’s a separate field of study, which means they specialize from the very beginning. Dentistry is structured similarly here. Until 1990, we followed the same system as in Ukraine. Thus, pediatricians who trained before that year underwent the same type of training as the Ukrainian pediatrician whose degree they refuse to recognize.”

“Dmitruk decided to try her luck in the Czech Republic and was pleasantly surprised: her qualifications were recognized there in just three months. All she has to do now is pass an exam, and she’ll be able to work there as a doctor. However, her family would like to stay in Bratislava, so she is trying to make it work in Slovakia. When she was unsuccessful again in 2018, she filed an appeal. She is now awaiting the court’s decision.”

The Role of MALnS and Strategic Advocacy

“What obstacles must foreign doctors overcome if they want to work here in their field?

I see the main problem as the lack of a system to support and integrate them. And this applies not only to doctors, but also to nurses, pharmacists, and midwives. At every turn, they face some kind of obstacle, which is why the whole process ends up being so complicated. Everything can come to a standstill as early as the stage of recognizing a higher education diploma—and that’s just the very first step. Because of this, pediatricians from Ukraine, Russia, and other countries, for example, are unable to qualify when bureaucrats—pardon my language—don’t like something. They aren’t looking for a solution; they’re looking for reasons why it can’t be done. The lack of training is also a problem.”

National Media Coverage

“According to RTVS, 30 doctors are in a similar situation. Several other healthcare professionals are also interested in working in Slovakia, but plan to apply for recognition of their education only once it becomes clear exactly what requirements they must meet.

“Doctors—often pediatricians—come to me for help. Unfortunately, I have to explain the situation in Slovakia to them—that their education is not automatically recognized. Quite a few decide to leave the Czech Republic for countries where they feel more confident,” explained Alena Kurotova of the International Association of Doctors and Healthcare Professionals in Slovakia.”

“Dozens of Ukrainian pediatricians in Slovakia are still waiting for their degrees to be recognized. ‘For three-quarters of a year now, we’ve been working on the case of, for example, a Ukrainian pediatrician who submitted an application for recognition of his education,’ notes Alena Kurotova of the International Association of Doctors and Healthcare Professionals in Slovakia in a press release. Since he received his education in the specialty of ‘pediatrics,’ which under the law is not equivalent to the relevant education in Slovakia, the Ministry of Education requested an opinion from one of the medical schools.”

“Recognition of Medical Degrees from Ukraine in the Slovak Republic

The situation in the healthcare sector, particularly in light of the shortage of doctors in the Slovak Republic, is serious. This article examines the current legal framework governing the medical profession of “physician” in Slovakia. It also analyzes the current situation regarding the training and recognition of qualifications for physicians who obtained their qualifications in Ukraine and wish to practice medicine as physicians in Slovakia. The legal status of Ukrainian physicians under Slovak law is examined separately. The aim of this study is to determine, based on theoretical knowledge and relevant regulatory acts, the possibilities for recognizing the education of Ukrainian physicians in Slovakia.”

Historic Reform (March 2023)

“After passing the qualifying exam, pediatricians from Ukraine will finally be able to work in Slovakia. Although these specialists fled their country to escape Russian aggression, they have not yet been able to find employment as pediatricians in Slovakia. The fact is that Ukraine’s medical education system is not harmonized in the same way as in EU countries. Specifically, in our eastern neighbor, general practitioners and pediatricians are trained separately. However, Slovakia does not recognize degrees from pediatric faculties.

Now this will become possible. Ukrainian pediatricians will only need to pass a one-day exam with immediate results. The exam can be taken in Ukrainian or Russian. The test consists of 60 questions, each with five possible answers. A candidate is considered to have passed if they answer 75 percent of the questions correctly.”

"Slovakia will simplify the recognition of pediatrician credentials from Ukraine. They will now be able to take the qualifying exam in Ukrainian or Russian, after which they can begin their residency and work in clinics or hospitals—just like graduates of Slovak medical schools.

They will then be able to take an additional exam in Slovak to have their general practice medical degree recognized.

This was announced by Prime Minister Eduard Heger, who is currently serving as acting Minister of Health.”

Key Regulatory Amendments

Standard Roadmap for a Foreign Pediatrician in Slovakia (Complete Step-by-Step Guide)

Step 1. Academic Diploma Recognition (Nostrification)

Step 2. Qualifying Exam
(Qualifying Exam for the Medical Profession: Pediatrician)

The qualification exam (to assess professional aptitude) consists of a written test and is administered in Ukrainian or Russian.

Enclosures to the Exam Application

Fee (charge)

Step 3. Temporary Internship
(Dočasná odborná stáž)

“After successfully passing the exam, their educational credentials will be recognized, allowing pediatricians to work for up to 18 months as part of a temporary professional internship.

After this exam, doctors can take an additional exam in the Slovak language. “The result will be the recognition of their general practice degree, valid throughout the European Union,” added Heger.”

Step 4. Supplementary Exam and Full Autonomy

It is important to emphasize

Professional Ethics: Dialogue Is More Effective Than Rumors

From my own experience, I can say (and I'm not speaking unfounded here—I've been administering a group of pediatricians for several years) that medical professionals know how to self-organize and help each other for FREE. That is why I am certain you will be able to find answers to most of your questions in professional communities; many there have walked this path before. Meanwhile, "paid helpers" will just drain your money, but going by the experience of colleagues whom I later had to bail out of trouble, the assistance provided is very mediocre and unreasonably expensive.

©Viktoriya Dmytruk

Olga Doubrovsky, my conclusions are based neither on rumors nor on personal animosity, but on concrete facts and examples from my fellow physicians who already have experience working with this firm. Go ahead and tell those doctors about "real help"—the ones who, after such "help," spent a long time untangling the resulting messes with both obtaining residence permits and getting employed. In one instance, a doctor took their promises of employment at face value, relocated to Slovakia, rented an apartment, and then waited months for the job they were promised.

I won't go into detail here about the document issues and other similar situations—that is a separate topic entirely. If this were about just one person, it could still be written off as a coincidence or an unfortunate stroke of bad luck. But when multiple people recount similar ordeals, it gives solid grounds to speak not of an isolated incident, but of a distinct pattern. So there is definitely no need to lecture me on how "real" and effective this firm's help is. I draw my conclusions based on concrete facts and the firsthand experiences of my colleagues.

©Viktoriya Dmytruk