In July 2025, the Czech government launched a major investment programme to strengthen the education of non-medical health professionals, with CZK 12.8 billion (EUR 520 million) allocated between 2026 and 2037. The programme, developed jointly by the Ministry of Health, public universities and professional associations, aims to expand training capacity in key fields such as general nursing, paediatric nursing, paramedicine, midwifery, radiology assistance and nutritional therapy. It targets a minimum 20% increase in student intake to support long-term staffing sustainability in the healthcare sector. Funding will be directed towards infrastructure upgrades, recruitment of academic staff, and improvements in admissions processes and practical training. Additional measures include streamlining specialization training, enhancing mental health and career support for educators, and strengthening links between education and clinical practice. The initiative responds to structural changes in the Czech health workforce and aims to maintain access to quality care in the context of population ageing.
Furthermore, in July 2025, the Czech Senate approved an amendment to the Act on Non-Medical Health Professions, aiming to improve access to the professions of practical nurses and paramedics by adjusting education requirements and allowing earlier entry into clinical practice. The amendment now awaits presidential signature. Under the new rules, students of general nursing, paediatric nursing and paramedicine will be allowed to begin working in hospitals as practical nurses after completing four semesters of a bachelor’s programme or two years at a higher vocational school – shortened from the current six semesters or three years. Paramedic students will also be able to join the workforce after five semesters or 2.5 years of vocational training.
The reform is designed to alleviate staffing shortages in hospitals and provide students with earlier hands-on experience. It also simplifies training requirements for future paramedics by allowing mandatory clinical placements to be completed directly within emergency medical services. In addition, the amendment aligns Czech legislation with EU rules on qualification recognition, including more flexible requirements for Romanian nurses seeking employment in Czechia.