After completing the first specialized examination, doctors are then eligible to be granted the specialized professional certificate. Thus, the minimum total time required to obtain a specialized professional certificate is 54 months.

Furthermore, the 18-month internship process to obtain the first professional certificate is considered a waste of time for those doctors who want to specialize in a particular field right from the beginning. Most doctors will opt for the 18-month internship to obtain the first professional certificate without receiving any income support. Moreover, not all doctors meet the qualifications to take the first specialized examination, and the waiting time to start specialization after university can be as long as 10 years.

Therefore, the process of obtaining a specialized professional certificate is challenging and flawed. In the current context, many hospitals are experiencing a shortage of personnel, especially in the area of specialized doctors with professional certificates.

Ms. Thao suggests that the relevant authorities consider measures to address these issues.

Regarding this matter, the Ministry of Health responded as follows:

The Ministry of Health acknowledges and will consider adjusting the process while developing guidelines for the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment, which has recently been passed by the National Assembly, to make it more practical.

At the same time, the Ministry of Health has been assigned to lead the development and has submitted a draft decree on specialized training in the field of health to the Government for timely adjustments to the regulations on specialized training in the near future to match practical needs, training linked to the medical profession, including regulations on training for granting specialized degrees and certificates in the field of health.