gms | German Medical Science

Introduction:

European paediatricians today have to cope with a changing epidemiological profile. The overall incidence and morbidity due to infectious diseases in the EU has declined. The prevalence of chronic diseases has increased (e.g. allergies, asthma, neurodermitis, diabetes) requiring continuing intensive attention. Also the number of children living in poverty has risen over the past decade. Numerous studies have demonstrated a correlation between the social situation and morbidity. Health systems and paediatric education will have to focus much more on social- and community aspects to sustainably implement adequate preventive measures.

The European Dimension in Paediatric Specialization:

Establishing the EHEA/ ERA, the EU-council of ministers initiated one of the largest processes of conformation in history of public education which has led to wide ranging comparability of higher education Europe-wide. However, medical education in the EU member states still varies greatly which makes Europe-wide comparability difficult to achieve.

Summary / Suggestions:

A fixed module in social paediatrics/ ambulatory along with links to research and other non-paediatric career opportunities should be provided to enhance interdisciplinarity and better prepare paediatricians for challenges of the future. The CESP- associated states could enhance the employability of their trainees if they adopted the basic modular framework for higher specialist training programs, as proposed by CESP. All trainees in Paediatrics should have experience of office primary care paediatrics.

EUROPET would seem like the ideal platform to promote these ideas along with their European paediatric partner organizations.