From ideal to reality: Uncovering the views of young medical doctors and medical students in the public health system

Over the past years, the public health system in Slovenia has been marked by a wide range of problems. These include staff shortages and the departure of doc­tors abroad or to the private sector, as well as problems with the decline in the im­age of and trust in the medical profession. The aim of this study is to give a voice to medical students and young doctors on the issues described above, more specifically on their perception of doctors leaving the public health sector, the media coverage of related issues, and the reputation of their profession. We also asked them about their motives for staying or leaving the public sector and about possible solutions to the problem. We conducted two focus groups: one comprising two female and five male medical students aged between 21 and 24, and the other comprising four male and four female young doctors who are 30 years of age, all of whom are studying or working in Ljubljana or Maribor. The participants see both positive and nega­tive aspects of the slovenian public health system, but want to stay because they are inspired by the complexity of the procedures, the quality of the treatments, the possibility of professional advancement and the accessibility of healthcare for all, as well as by the sense of job security and belonging. They are attracted to the private sector mainly because of the fair pay, which they also want in the public sector, given the hard work they do. Our participants therefore want to stay in the public health system, but not without changes. Alongside higher pay, they also need improved working conditions and a change in media coverage. The study thus offers and re­veals the wishes and needs of those who, among others, represent the future of the public health system and thus begins to fill a gap in Slovenian literature. Among the main messages from the participants is that doctors should be involved in, if not left to, regulating the health system so that they can work „more and better“.