Funding of vocational training programmes for general  practice/family medicine in Europe.
OBJECTIVE
As financial arrangements for vocational training (VT) in general practice/family medicine seemed to differ among European countries, the VT committee of EURACT compiled an overview to permit comparison.


METHODS
A questionnaire with open and closed questions was e-mailed in March 2006 to representatives of the 34 different countries on the EURACT Council.


RESULTS
Thirty completed questionnaires were returned (88% response rate). The salary of the GP trainee during clinical training in GP/FM is paid by the state on its own or with others in 19 countries (63%), and is the same during community and hospital rotations in 22 countries (73%). The GP trainer gets extra payment for supervision and teaching in only 14 countries (47%). Structured VT programmes are fully or partly financed by the state in 17 countries (57%), with trainees being paid for working hours spent in seminars/coursework in 19 countries (63%). Funding was cited as the commonest challenge and strength regarding VT programmes (cited 20 and 11 times, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Recommendations made regarding the provision of vocational training across Europe include a structured curriculum supported by adequate funding, the professional recognition of GP trainers, which includes a fair and appropriate salary, and equity of salary for GP trainees.
Sammut
Mario R
MR
Maltese representative to EURACT Council, Malta College of Family Doctors, Malta. mrsammut@rocketmail.com
Lindh
Monica
M
Rindlisbacher
Bernhard
B
D005060:Europe; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005380:Financing, Government / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014146:Training Support / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data