Introduction.
Prior to detailed review of the North-
West Federal District (NWFD) pulmonology service per-
formance during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is especial-
ly worthwhile to evaluate its human resourcing in the
prepandemic period of 2015–2019, since the perfor-
mance of pulmonology service largely depends on its
staffing, moreover in conditions of restructuring and
decreased number of pulmonology bedspace in hospi-
tals.
Мethods.
In the course of the study, the authors
have analysed human resourcing data for pulmonology
profile within the state healthcare system in NWFD for
the period of 2015–2019. The results were statistically
processed and data analysis carried out using Micro-
soft Office Excel and SPSS software.
Results
. In the state
healthcare system medical institutions of the NWFD
throughout 2015–2019, the number of regular pulm-
onologists’ positions fluctuated unrhythmically. The
number of pulmonologists (MDs) in NWFD grew 0.82%
during the period of 2015–2019, for comparison, in the
Russian Federation the growth for the same period was
32.08%. The number of operating pulmonology depart-
ments remained practically the same, but the number
of occupied positions constantly changed. Practically all
the pulmonologists in the NWFD have a specialist certi-
ficate, but the share of doctors with qualification grade
remains insufficient, and is on the decrease. Statistical
analysis demonstrated significant positive Pearson cor-
relation between the number of pulmonologists and
general respiratory incidence (0.74 р=0.04), mortality
(0.756 р=0.003), and the number of occupied pulmo-
nology bedspace (0.619 р=0.024).
Conclusion.
Today,
pulmonology service human resourcing review is to be
conducted taking into account respiratory morbidity
and mortality and the need for pulmonology services
among the general population. Currently, there is no sci-
entifically justified regulatory framework for the deve-
lopment of the pulmonology service in NWFD regions,
while the work of such services depends very much on
the regional budgets and medical services’ tariffs. The
development and fast implementation of such compre-
hensive measures as salaries’ increase, adequate social
support, regular residential and non-residential courses
of continuous medical education, professional networ-
king, etc. will allow to maintain and holistically develop
the human potential of the NWFD pulmonology service.