On Friday, February 21, 2025, the Ministry of Health, together with partners, presented fundamental steps to ensure a sufficient number of qualified non-medical healthcare workers, especially general nurses, at a press conference. The government program concerns an increase in the capacity of education of key non-medical healthcare professions at universities by at least 20%. Dean Martin Repko attended the press conference on behalf of the Faculty of Medicine of MU and confirmed that our faculty clearly supports this increase already in the ongoing admissions process.
The Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University is responding to the growing need for medical personnel and, thanks to a new government program, will increase the capacity of admitted students in selected non-medical health fields. Applicants who apply for study in the following academic year have a greater chance of being accepted.
The Government Support for Non-Medical Health Professions Program was created as a systematic solution to the looming shortage of health professionals, primarily due to their aging. The program is intended to ensure a sufficient number of qualified experts for the Czech healthcare system in the coming years, when a significant number of current workers are expected to retire. Similar to the previous successful program to support the education of doctors, it will allow for an increase in the capacities of study programs by up to 20%. "Increasing the capacities of schools is an absolute necessity; available data show us that due to aging, a significant number of people in key professions will retire in the next 10 years. The government program, strengthening the capacity of participating universities by up to 20%, eliminates the risk that we would face a personnel shortage in these professions due to these retirements," said the Director of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics and Head of the Institute of Biostatistics and Analysis of the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University, Prof. Ladislav Dušek, adding that a system for quantitative predictions of the capacities of doctors and non-doctors was also completed.
"The prepared program of Government Support for Non-Medical Health Professions will allow us to accept approximately 20% more students. The Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University fully supports the prepared program and plans to participate in it in the following study programs we teach: General Nursing, Midwifery, Radiological Assistance, Emergency Medical Services and Nutritional Therapy. The government program will thus allow us to accept a higher number of applicants already in this current period, with studies starting in the next academic year 2025/2026. It is a program that will bring thousands of young, highly educated people into the healthcare sector. Schools and the state must guarantee them a stable environment and high-quality teaching. A similar program for doctors, which will lead to a higher number of graduates this year for the first time and which serves as a model, has proven to be a good approach," said the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of Masaryk University and Vice-Chairman of the Association of Deans of Medical Faculties, Prof. Martin Repko.
At a press conference, the Chief Nurse of the Czech Republic, Alice Strnadová, described the growing interest in studying health fields among young people, noting that there is currently a shortage of approximately 2,500 general nurses. Those interested in studying the above non-medical health fields can submit applications until February 28, 2025.
The charity collection "Christmas Baking in the Campus," which took place on Monday, December 8, 2025, in the southern corridors of the Campus of the Faculty of Medicine and Faculty of Science at Masaryk University, successfully attracted students and staff. A pleasant Advent atmosphere prevailed throughout the day, complemented by the aroma of Christmas cookies and homemade sweet treats.
