There is a shortage of specialist doctors in 19 of 21 regions in Sweden. The need for new specialists is therefore great, but the corona crisis has caused problems in the doctors' training programs.

This concerns both public service (AT) and specialist service (ST).

- In many parts of the country we receive reports that the training is paused and that the doctors will then not proceed in their education service, says Madeleine Liljegren, chair of the Association of Young Physicians (SYLF).

Can't help the residents

SVT has been in contact with several young doctors around the country. Some describe that they more or less roll their thumbs in the locker room, while others are given alternative tasks.

In the Västmanland region, hospital management has received sharp criticism from ST doctors in several departments.

This is, among other things, a decision that says that ST doctors must not operate independently, even if they have the expertise to do so.

"It has had the consequence that I cannot help to help the residents of Västmanland with acute illnesses," says Abdi-Fatah Hersi, who is an ST doctor in surgery and continues:

- They have limited my ability to carry out my profession and thus help the inhabitants.

Want to streamline operations

The hospital management in Västerås believes the decision has been made in the light of the need to streamline operations and to save time by always having a specialist in place.

"The basic problem regarding ST education is that we have reduced the number of operations very much," says Martin Andersson, Deputy Area Manager.

- If we do half as many surgeries, it is very difficult to get a sufficient volume of surgery as a ST doctor. We have to work on that, he says.