Bulgarian Union of Physician Assistants and Feldshers

International experience in the development of the profession of Medical Assistant

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health workforce shortages and uneven distribution as a global phenomenon. Addressing these shortages requires a multilateral strategy. Part of it is the introduction of a new type of health profession, the ‘Medical Assistant’.
The review follows the emergence and development of the profession of Medical Assistant in some European countries, the United States and Canada. Presents the successful realization of the staff as a professional and economically profitable model of medical staff.
In recent years, many European countries – the Netherlands, Germany, the UK, including Bulgaria – have been training medical assistants. The profession has been practiced in India since 2009, in Australia - 2010, South Africa, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand. Countries such as Belgium, Switzerland, France, Spain, Japan, Singapore, Ukraine, Moldova, Romania, Latvia, Estonia are also interested to varying degrees.
It can reasonably be argued that ‘Medical Assistant’ is a profession in the process of globalisation, with good prospects for staff development and realisation.