In a reading room at Gade’s institute in Bergen, Sara Soraya Eriksen is in the middle of rushing to finish her medical studies. At the same time, the 26-year-old from Førde is also in the process of applying for vacancies as a LIS1 doctor, or doctor in specialisation. In order to specialize and get a permanent job as a doctor, newly graduated doctors must complete LIS1. What used to be called the turnstone nest. The LIS1 scheme LIS stands for “doctor in specialisation”, and LIS1 is the first part of the specialist course for people with a medical official qualification. LIS1 corresponds to what used to be called turnstone test. The LIS1 positions are standardized at 1.5 years. One year in hospital service and half a year in the municipal health service. The LIS1 positions are advertised in the job portal of the Norwegian Directorate of Health by the health industry in collaboration with the municipalities. There are two application rounds each year, in spring and autumn. Without LIS1, you can be appointed to a temporary position, but you cannot progress in the specialist course without LIS1. Source: The Directorate of Health and the Great Medical Encyclopedia Soraya Eriksen has already been interviewed. – But in one interview I was told if they had fewer positions this year due to the government’s proposal in the state budget, she says. There are more newly qualified doctors than there are vacancies as LIS1 doctor. Now there are fears that the budget will make it even more difficult to get such jobs. Photo: Arne Frank Solheim / news There are actually far more newly qualified doctors than there are LIS1 places. And in the proposal for the state budget for 2023, the government proposes that 31 new and planned places from next year will be cut. – It is quite sensational, quite simply, she says. Yngre Legers Forening: Can’t sit in a queue Soraya Eriksen thinks it’s extra special, since Norway both struggles with a lack of GPs and specialists. – You want to use your resources and the knowledge you have acquired after your education, and not yet up the LIS1 queue, she adds. The case was first reported in the newspaper Khrono. The head of Young Doctors’ Association, Kristin Kornelia Utne, calls the proposal absurd. – In the state budget, there is talk of strengthening psychiatry and general medicine. And it is precisely in these subjects that we lack specialists. If we are to employ more specialists, we need the doctors to get through LIS1. When they are standing in a queue, more specialists will not be trained, says Utne. Kristin Kornelia Utne in the Young Doctors’ Association believes that the proposal for the state budget is hopeless. Photo: Haakon Nesse Moreau / news Process must be stopped One of the healthcare companies that will be stopped in new positions within LIS1 is Helse Fonna in the south of Vestland. From 1 March next year, they should have a LIS1 doctor in place who would work in child and youth psychiatry. It is an important investment area for them. – These are positions that are important for Helse Fonna, especially with regard to the future recruitment of doctors. For LIS1, this is often the first meeting with the hospital and provides a good basis for building a relationship for a future position in the specialist health service, says HR director in the company, Helga Stautland Onarheim. news has previously mentioned that the health insurance company is struggling to get hold of enough doctors. The HR director does not want to criticize the budget proposal from the government, but adds that she hopes the money will come gradually. State Secretary: – Must prioritize State Secretary Ole Henrik Krat Bjørkholt (Ap) in the Ministry of Health and Care says they have increased the number of LIS1 positions in the last two years. And that this is an important area for them. – We have increased the number by 200, up to 1120, he says. But in a tight budget they had to prioritize. – This year we have prioritized NOK 690 million for solving the GP crisis, which is a historically high investment. At the time, however, there were no funds to increase the number of LIS1 places, he says. Kristin Kornelia Utne thinks it is wrong that they have increased the number at LIS1 by 200. – It would have been an increase of 200 with the 31 for next year. But now they are cut, she thinks. Both Kornelia Utne and medical student Soraya Eriksen now hope that a majority of the politicians in the Storting will turn around and change the proposal.
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Medical student Sara (26) fears a greater shortage of doctors after budget cuts – news Vestland
