The development of medical education in Eastern Europe during the 20th century and the emergence of ‘English parallel’ courses

Abstract

This paper will explore the development of medical education in the Soviet Union, its underlying principles and the subsequent migration of this format into the countries of the Soviet Bloc following World War II. The impact of Perestroika and the collapse of the Warsaw Pact on university training and medical education in particular will be reviewed. The need for external funding as a factor in the emergence of English Parallel courses in Hungary, Czechoslovakia and subsequently in other countries will also be considered.