According to a government regulation of 19 February related to the health service legal relationship, the years spent in PhD training are also taken into account in determining the salary classification regarding the new legal relationship. Semmelweis University considers the amendment important as it does not disadvantage those who participate in the doctoral training. It is the strategic interest of the university to maintain and further increase the popularity of PhD training, which is why a working group has been set up to create a regulatory environment that supports this.
From 1 March 2021, physicians, dentists, pharmacists and other university graduates working in the medical service will be classified on the basis of their length of service in the medical service, and they always move up one salary grade starting from the first day of the month following the end of the waiting period (a specified period of time during which the employee spends time commensurate with his or her salary classification). Therefore, it has an especial importance of what exactly may be calculated in the time spent in this legal relationship. This is determined by the government regulation of Act C of 2020 on the Legal Service Relationship (Eszjtv.) and Act 528/2020 detailing its implementation (XI. 28.).
Government regulation on the inclusion of a PhD degree in a legal relationship
The government regulation of 69/2021. (II. 19.) promulgated on 19 February 2021 extends the scope specified in the above legislation with PhD training, which is thus also included in the years spent in the medical service. As the draft employment contracts were prepared by Semmelweis University before the promulgated regulation of 19 February, and were uploaded to the electronic repository of staff members in accordance with the regulations, therefore in these contracts, the years spent in doctoral training are not yet included. At the same time, the Directorate-General for Human Resources will review, in accordance with the new rules, the need to change the salary classification for all concerned.
This is done automatically for graduates of the School of PhD Studies at Semmelweis University, based on a certificate written by the School of PhD Studies, while those who have obtained a degree elsewhere are requested to present a certificate by 19 March 2021 as described in the relevant circular.
According to the law, the employer unilaterally amends the health service employment contract with regard to classification in a higher grade.
Regulatory proposals to increase the popularity of the training
The university is also working to increase the popularity of doctoral training with proposals to amend regulations, for which purpose a special working group has been set up under the coordination of the Vice-Rector for Science and Innovation. It would help to make the training more attractive if, while maintaining the benefits of the student status, the PhD training period would be included in the duration of the domestic work undertaken. The university supports doctoral training in parallel with professional training for those who can undertake to meet the compulsory requirements in both. Efforts include modifying the degree to which a PhD degree alone (even without a specialist examination) may be sufficient for the appointment of a teaching assistant at Semmelweis University departments.
The strategic interest of Semmelweis University is the continuous improvement of the quantitative and qualitative indicators of doctoral training, which has a decisive influence on the scientific performance of the institution, as well as on its access to R & D & I resources and its place in international rankings. In addition, the doctoral program ensures the supply of university lecturers and researchers, so the priority is to create a regulatory and financial environment that makes the acquisition of degrees attractive.
Pálma Dobozi
Photo (illustration): Attila Kovács – Semmelweis University
Translation: Katalin Illés-Romhányi
