There was a serious shortage of doctors in municipal health centres of North Karelia, with the vacancy rate of about 30%. In order to relieve the shortage, the municipalities suggested a project for recruiting doctors from abroad. The North West Russia was chosen as the area of recruitment, as many doctors from that area had contacted the municipalities and expressed their willingness to work in Finland. The goal and challenge was to develop sufficiently high proficiency in the Finnish language for work as a physician, to develop the organization of learning at work, to give support in the integration into society and in preparing for the examinations.

The municipalities, the social and health care sector and the administration as well as the users of health care services, the doctors getting qualification and being employed.

The programme included working as an assistant in a health centre and at the same time attending a training programme. The language and working life training were also implemented individually at workplaces. The programme also included integration training, continuing vocational education, preparing for and taking the examinations required by the National Supervisory Authority for Welfare and Health (Valvira) and support for integration into Finnish society.

The aim of developing and implementing a high quality training programme was achieved. Language training was efficient and the participants’ language skills reached the expected level and in some cases even more. The examinations required by Valvira were passed with varying success, perhaps less successfully than was expected. Preparation for the examinations turned out to take more time than was anticipated. The aim of recruiting immigrant doctors was also achieved: all doctors are staying in Finland, some of them work as physicians and some are preparing for the examinations in order to qualify and start to work as physicians.

Evaluation indicators are employment, development of language skills and passing of the examinations. Those participants who passed the examinations were employed. All participants reached the required level in language skills. The project published a website to help those willing to immigrate and work as doctors in Finland and a guide for the employers willing to recruit immigrant doctors. One recommendation is that theoretical training should be joined to work. Professional language and professional skills can only be learnt in working environment. A long-lasting programme should include several intermediate milestones and evaluations in order to strengthen the motivation of the participants.

The project was funded by the European Social Fund, the Finnish state, the municipalities and the Regional Council of North Karelia. The total budget was 528 600 EUR. The project was implemented by the University of Eastern Finland. The 4 part time workers at the university included the project manager and secretary, Finnish language teacher and working life tutor. They worked in close cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine and a tutor doctor, an experienced doctor working in a local health centre. Over 20 medical specialists worked as trainers. In addition, experts of various organizations were hired as trainers, the total amount of experts exceeding 50.