The state and the problems of the education in the sphere of clinical laboratory diagnostics in Ukraine

The question of the medical laboratories staff training is currently in the focus of attention in Ukraine. Laboratory technicians with a college degree are prepared in the medical colleges for two or four years depending on school educational level. During their practice they are assessed every five years on completing the additional improving course. The position and their job responsibilities are defined by the Ministry of Health Protection. Bachelors of clinical laboratory diagnostics (CLD) are trained in medical universities obtaining the appropriate license. The position and their job responsibilities are similar to laboratory technicians' ones. The CLD specialists are prepared by the CLD departments in the medical academies of postgraduate education or medical universities' faculties of postgraduate studies. Those graduates, who have already acquired a degree in Medicine or Biology are eligible for the training program. Biologists pass courses of specialization for five month whereas doctors pass the specialization for ten month including four month practice. If the doctors wish, they can do the masters degree program within doing the specialization. However, because their position and job responsibilities are not determined by the Ministry of Health Protection of Ukraine, masters are allowed to practice their profession at the level of specialists. The specialists that practice clinical biochemistry, laboratory immunology, microbiology and medical genetics have to take the additional appropriate two-three month specialization courses. During their practice, specialists are assessed every five years. For assessment the commission takes into account the quantity of credits that a specialist has received within five years. Credits are earned for attending the scientific conferences, publishing scientific works, books or handbooks, professional training and pre-assessment module courses. The position and their responsibilities are defined by the Ministry of Health Protection of Ukraine. Currently there is no system in Ukraine for higher academic education for professionals in clinical laboratory diagnostics. We are aware of this fact and are committed to the improvement of the Ukrainian teaching clinical laboratory diagnostics system.