Urology in the Nordic Countries

Abstract

The development in the Nordic countries reflects even greater attempts to put a brake on specialization in surgery. With farreaching specialization there will be comparatively few surgeons in each field. The organization will be vulnerable, for instance because the recruiting must often be limited to a small circle. The system inhibits competition, and also the flexibility that is essential if talented surgeons are to have equal chances of attaining leading positions. Moreover, a specialist without a thorough basic training in surgery is not in a position to manage the full range of work associated with the emergency department. Far-reaching specialization should therefore be limited to university Department and regional hospitals. One of the most important tasks of these hospitals should be the training of specialists and research. At the central hospitals a division into parenchymal and orthopaedic surgery is advantageous, but further differentiation can be effected within the framework of greater units. A similar but less pronounced differentiation should also be possible at the local hospitals. On the whole there would seem to be a general desire for the appointment at the surgical Department of more surgeons with differentiated training.