training

Type of Training: There is a residency program that involves training in a GP office as well as in the hospital (Macháčová, 2018)

Length of Training: Medical school (6 years) post-graduate training in specialization, (3 years) or 6 months training if already a specialist (FOM - General Information, n.d.)

Year family medicine established: 2014 (Macháčová, 2018)

Number of institutions that offer family medicine: There are 2 universities that teach family medicine, Pavol Josef Safarik Univ Kosice, and Jessenius Fac Med Martin (Brekke et al., 2013)

Number of family medicine residents graduating each year (2018): 20 family medicine residents (Macháčová, 2018)

practice

Number of family doctors in country (2016): 2,300 family physicians (Eurostat, 2016)

Physician to population ratio (2006): 43.3 family physicians per 100,000 people (Masseria et al., 2009).

Number of family doctors in country (2016): 1,412 family physicians (Eurostat, 2016)

Physician to population ratio (2006): 56.1 family physicians per 100,000 people (Masseria et al., 2009).

DALY: 15,340 per 100,000 individuals (Due to all Causes).

Life Expectancy:

• Females 2017: 80.7 years

• Males 2017: 73.8 years

Mortality rate 2017:

• 2014 Males: 154 per 1,000 male adults.

• 2014 Females: 63 per 1,000 female adults.

Infant Immunization-HepB3: % of 1-year-old children received: 96%

College of Family Physicians (Y or N):

• Yes: Slovak Society of General Practice (SSGP).

Training

Family medicine was only recently recognized in 2014 (Macháčová, 2018). Family physicians in Slovakia now undergo a residency training program involving training in a general practitioner’s office as well as in the hospital (Macháčová, 2018). They attend medical school, which is 6 years (FOM - General Information, n.d.).  Following this there is three years of post-graduate training. However, if you are already a specialist there is only 6 months of training to become a GP. Two universities currently offer family medicine: Pavol Josef Safarik Univ Kosice, and Jessenius Fac Med Martin (Brekke et al., 2013). 20 family medicine residents currently graduate from these two institutions (Macháčová, 2018).

Practice

Approximately 2300 family physicians are practicing in Slovakia, providing continuous and comprehensive care, and can treat everything. There are 43.3 family physicians per 100,000 people (Masseria et al., 2009).  Each GP takes on about 1,800 patients, and GPs in the rural areas take about 2000-4000 patients.They cannot prescribe medicine, as a patient would need to see a specialist for this (Macháčová, 2018). Other primary caregivers include gynecologists and pediatricians (Arya et al., 2017). A GP must be seen to have a referral for specialized care. Primary care operates under the polyclinic model, providing out of hospital care (Macháčová, 2018).