Shortage of children’s doctors on horizon as average age rises

The Czech Republic is facing a shortage of paediatricians as the average age of doctors in the field increases. Four years ago the average age of a children’s doctor was 58, but in 2030 it is expected to have risen to 62, the Czech News Agency reported on Sunday.

Many paediatricians are entering retirement but replacements are hard to find, meaning the number of patients treated by one doctor is rising.

A national association of paediatricians says the problem has in large part been caused by a change in doctor training approved four years ago that merged training for children’s GPs and hospital paediatricians. The Ministry of Health is aware of the problem and is seeking to rectify it, the Czech News Agency said.