Latest news with #CzechHealthMinistry
Euractiv
10-07-2025
- Health
- Euractiv
Czechia tackles healthcare workforce age timebomb
In a strategic move to address the ageing healthcare workforce, the Czech Health Ministry and university leaders presented a multi-year investment programme to expand capacities at public universities for non-medical health professions. From 2026 to 2037, the Czech government will allocate approximately €500 million to help train more general nurses, paediatric nurses, paramedics, midwives, radiological assistants, and nutrition therapists. The programme aims to increase the number of students admitted to these study fields by at least 20% while improving teaching facilities and recruiting academic staff. This year, €8 million has already been released to support admission procedures and preparations. 'Although we have a relatively high number of healthcare workers compared to other EU countries, the structure of the workforce is changing. We're responding early – with a clear plan, funding and support from partners,' said Czech Health Minister Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09, EPP) on Wednesday (9 July). Preventive approach 'If we want to maintain the accessibility and quality of care in the future, we must have enough educated and motivated people. This programme brings concrete steps to achieve that,' Válek added. Válek stressed that workforce capacity in healthcare cannot be increased overnight. 'That is why early forecasting of healthcare personnel is an absolute strategic necessity,' he said. The new concept aims to both preserve the accessibility of care and reduce the average age of healthcare professionals. Ladislav Dušek, director of the Institute of Health Information and Statistics (ÚZIS), emphasised the urgent need for expansion. 'Data clearly shows that increasing the capacity of schools is essential. This programme is a preventive step, it will allow universities to admit at least 20% more students and thus ensure the long-term sustainability of the healthcare workforce,' Dušek explained during a press conference on Wednesday. 'It's a strategic measure' University leaders were closely involved in shaping the programme and report that early results are already visible. According to Prague's Charles University and the Czech Rectors Conference, the initial investment released this year has helped universities increase their intake of students in non-medical health professions. The approach builds on a previous programme launched in 2019 to support general medicine studies, which led to a notable rise in graduates and is now considered a successful model. Education officials see the new programme as a logical extension, aimed at securing long-term personnel stability across the health sector. 'It's a strategic measure. The Czech population is ageing, and the healthcare system must adapt. This programme will ensure enough professionals and stable conditions for their training,' said Zdeněk Horák, Rector of the Polytechnic University in Jihlava and Vice-Chair of the Czech Rectors Conference. Universities are already taking steps to expand capacity, both in terms of infrastructure and academic staffing. With student interest in non-medical programmes on the rise, the targeted 20% increase in admissions for this year appears within reach. Early figures also suggest a growing number of academics are getting involved in training the next generation of healthcare professionals. To support this effort, the Czech Health Ministry is rolling out additional measures to make education pathways more flexible, improve links between teaching and clinical environments, and retain qualified teaching staff. The programme also includes reforms to streamline specialisation training, strengthen practical education, and introduce psychosocial and administrative support. [Edited by Vasiliki Angouridi, Brian Maguire]
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Warning over 'faeces disease' in holiday hotspot that has already killed six
The potentially deadly infection, which spreads through poor hygiene and contaminated food, can cause serious liver damage - and hundreds have already fallen ill across one popular European destination British tourists are being urged to get vaccinated against a 'faeces disease' currently sweeping across Europe. The potentially deadly infection spreads through the faecal-oral route - when someone ingests food or water contaminated with the faeces of an infected person - and can cause serious liver damage in those who contract it. Hundreds have already fallen ill across the Czech Republic - including its capital Prague - with hepatitis A. The disease is known for triggering symptoms like jaundice, dark urine and intense itching, and has now prompted a fresh warning from Travel Health Pro - a Government-backed travel advisory agency. The Czech Health Ministry warned: "The disease, also known as infectious jaundice, is spreading not only among children but also among adolescents and young adults, and among people with risky behaviour, especially among drug addicts and homeless people." As of May 5, the Czech Republic has logged 450 confirmed hepatitis A cases and six deaths - a significant spike compared to the whole of 2024, which saw 636 cases and two fatalities. Central Bohemia, Moravia-Silesia and Prague are currently the worst-affected regions - with 87, 83 and 73 cases respectively. Speaking on the rise in cases, Dr Macková, chief hygienist and director of the country's national institute of public health, said: "When we compare the figures for the whole of last year and just four months of this year, it is clear that we are seeing a sharp increase in cases. Hepatitis A affects regions across the country. "The transmission of the infection occurs mainly as a result of poor hygiene conditions. Due to the long incubation period, often asymptomatic course, and increasing non-compliance with basic hygiene habits, the infection has very good conditions for spreading. In the current situation, we recommend getting vaccinated before the start of holidays and vacations." Health bosses have since issued guidance to tourists, urging them to avoid raw food. "It is recommended to avoid consuming raw salads and vegetables, fruit that you cannot peel yourself, ice cream, raw or semi-raw seafood, and oysters are especially dangerous. In general, it is good to avoid undercooked foods and not use ice in drinks," said Dr Kateřina Fabiánová - an infectious disease expert for the Czech public health authority. In children, hepatitis A is largely asymptomatic and it could also take a while for symptoms to start showing in adults - meaning many could be unknowingly passing the virus on. Fabiánová explained: "The time from infection to the development of symptoms of the disease is 14-50 days, most often 30 days." Health officials say certain groups face a higher risk, including frequent travellers, those staying with local residents, men who have sex with men, and people with existing health issues like liver disease. In the UK, the hepatitis A vaccination isn't routine due to the low domestic risk. But the NHS does recommend it for those visiting regions where the virus is more widespread, such as parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America. While serious illness from hepatitis A is rare in the UK, the virus claimed 42 lives between 2005 and 2021.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Warning to travellers as outbreak of deadly virus 'spread by faeces' surges through parts of Europe, killing six
Holidaymakers jetting off to a popular European destination have been urged to get jabbed amid a fast-spreading outbreak of 'dirty hands disease'. Hundreds have fallen ill across the Czech Republic, including in the capital Prague, with a potentially deadly virus that can shut down the liver called hepatitis A. Now, the Government-backed agency Travel Health Pro has issued a stark warning to Britons planning to visit and have urged them to get vaccinated against the infection. The virus is spread through faeces, giving it the name 'dirty hands disease' among locals. The virus inflames the liver, stopping it from working properly. This can eventually cause jaundice—making the skin and the whites of the eyes turn yellow. It can also lead to dark urine and cause itchy skin. The Czech Health Ministry warned: 'The disease, also known as infectious jaundice, is spreading not only among children but also among adolescents and young adults, and among people with risky behaviour, especially among drug addicts and homeless people.' As of May 5, the Czech Republic has recorded 450 confirmed cases of hepatitis A (Hep A), with six deaths reported. That's a sharp rise compared to all of 2024, which saw 636 cases and two fatalities. The hardest-hit areas so far are Central Bohemia (87 cases), Moravia-Silesia (83), and Prague (73). Dr Macková, chief hygienist and director of the country's national institute of public health, has raised the alarm over the dramatic rise, stating: 'When we compare the figures for the whole of last year and just four months of this year, it is clear that we are seeing a sharp increase in cases. Hepatitis A affects regions across the country. 'The transmission of the infection occurs mainly as a result of poor hygiene conditions. 'Due to the long incubation period, often asymptomatic course, and increasing non-compliance with basic hygiene habits, the infection has very good conditions for spreading. 'In the current situation, we recommend getting vaccinated before the start of holidays and vacations,' added Dr Macková. The country's health chiefs have issued further guidance for travellers to cut their risk of infection. 'It is recommended to avoid consuming raw salads and vegetables, fruit that you cannot peel yourself, ice cream, raw or semi-raw seafood, and oysters are especially dangerous. 'In general, it is good to avoid undercooked foods and not use ice in drinks,' said Dr Kateřina Fabiánová an infectious disease expert for the Czech public health authority. Hepatitis A is largely asymptomatic in children, and it takes a while for the virus to cause symptoms in adults—meaning many could be unknowingly passing it on. Fabiánová explained: 'The time from infection to the development of symptoms of the disease is 14-50 days, most often 30 days.' Health chiefs have warned that some travellers are at higher risk. They say that people staying with locals, frequent travellers, men who have sex with men and those with existing medical conditions such as liver disease are most at risk. Hep A vaccines are not routinely given in the UK due to the low risk of getting the infection. But the NHS does advise the jab for travellers heading to places where the virus is more common. These include parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Central and South America. Hepatitis A is a very rare cause of death in the UK — between 2005 and 2021, 42 deaths were recorded with hepatitis A as an underlying cause.
