In Ukraine, plans are being made to restore compulsory military training for medical students.

The return of compulsory military training for medical and pharmaceutical students

The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is discussing a draft law that proposes the introduction of compulsory military training for medical and pharmaceutical students. According to draft law No. 13276 on amendments to the Law 'On Military Duty and Military Service', this will concern the training of reserve officers in the medical service.

According to the authors of the draft law, the main motive for this step is the shortage of specialists in the field of military medicine and pharmacy for the needs of the Armed Forces. Currently, the military training of medical officers is carried out solely on a voluntary basis, mainly at the expense of individuals, which leads to only about 5% of students in medical and pharmaceutical specialties undergoing this training.

If the draft law is adopted, students studying in medical and pharmaceutical specialties will be required to undergo military training if they meet health and psychological requirements. Educational institutions that prepare such specialists will also be required to ensure that students complete a full course of training for reserve officers in the medical service.