The Institute for Postgraduate Medical Education /IPVZ/ was established in 1954 by Ministry of Health of Czech republic. The Institute was based on previous the Vocational Education Institute for Physicians and the Institute for Post Educational Level of Physicians and Pharmacists. The Institute is responsible for a postgraduate educational level of physicians, pharmacists and dentists, including organization of doctors and paramedical staff attestation testing and preparing implementation of various types of further education. The Institute on behalf of the Ministry of Health shall prepare and organize the approbation examination of physicians, dentists and pharmacists who as foreign nationals have obtained medical qualification outside the European Union and wish to practice their profession in the Czech Republic or the European Union.
The Institute celebrated 66 years anniversary of its successful operation in the last year. Since its inception has demonstrated the ability to perform tasks in the area of specialization and continuing training of health professionals, which helps to increase the quality of education of doctors and improves the quality of health care in the Czech Republic.
Activities, management, the Institute organizational structure and economy are governed by the Statute of the Institute. The currently valid Statute was issued on August 4, 2004 by the founder and then there have been a continuous updating of four additions. Based on this Statute, the Institute has been an educational and scientific institution which provides conceptual, analytical, educational, methodical approach; including assessment, coordinating, registration, and scientific and accreditation activities in the field of specialized education of medical professionals. With contracted organizations provides methodological assistance in the field of lifelong learning. The Institute performs the tasks of the Ministry of Health and makes proposals and suggestions in order to improve the quality of continuing education in health care.
Educational activities are regularly posted on the official board of education events and on the website of the Institute. Within specialized and lifelong learning the Institute offers a wide range of courses, internships, workshops and seminars. The Institute organizes about 1500 training events for more than 17 000 people among physicians, dentists, pharmacists and paramedical health workers every year.
Apart from educational activities, however, the Institute also participates in the activities on conceptual, methodological, research and consulting. There is formed a close cooperation base with the Ministry of Health, medical schools, the National Centre of Nursing and Other Health Professions in Brno and other educational institutions; including the Czech Medical Association J. E. Purkyně, the Czech Medical Chamber, the Czech Chamber of Pharmacists, the Czech Dental Chamber, but also with specialized and professional organizations abroad.
The IPVZ academic institutions
Currently, the Institute has 94 of educational centers (36 departments, 50 subdivisions, the School of Public Health and learning workplaces and departments). The most centers have its headquarters in Prague, but 5 of them are located outside Prague. Training facility of educational centers are mainly hospitals and clinics of medical schools, and other medical centers in Prague, Brno and Olomouc. More than half of departments and subdivisions have expanded its educational activities throughout the Czech Republic. The important parts of the Institute organizational structure are other offices and branches activities that ensure the realization of all the organized educational activities. The student service departments, which are located in Prague 10 and Prague 4, prepare all educational events and keep records of all learning activities, participants, lecturers and examiners to make a valuable database. The database contains all documentation relating to the attestation certificates, including other tests and training events. Electronic communication is used for all kinds of communication with people interested in education - receiving applications, sending invitations etc.
Tutorial facilities
The Institute staff has been trying to prepare high-quality educational events and create a pleasant and motivating atmosphere in which it is taught. There are several modern equipped classrooms in the building of Hotel ILF in Prague 4 and additional classrooms in the headquarters building in Prague 10. Facilities allow students to use the most advanced multimedia teaching techniques and methods of effective training. Multimedia computer labs are used for interactive learning and assessing candidates within the pre-attestation training through tests. In order to solves test the Institute created a special test system, which is also used for the approbation written test for foreigners.
Hotel ILF facilities are also at a high level, including more than 320 beds, cafe, restaurant and other hotel services. These facilities are used for Institute educational events and also provide services for events organized by The Ministry of Health, professional societies, and organizing international congresses and conferences. The hotel will even more focus on a selected group of clients – the doctors and the other healthcare professionals who acquire VIP club card or programs.
The future vision does not generate radical change in the mission of the Institute nor its organizational structure. The institution will continue to build a trusted authority aimed at educating healthcare professionals and delivering expert activities in health sector based on changes in the educational system and in the entire health care system. The Institute can rely on the achievements and define new trends of strategies in constantly changing conditions. The vision is to maintain the central system of education of health professionals who will be creating cooperative teams to improve the quality of health care provided in the Czech Republic.
