Mark Härö continues to pursue medical dream amid fierce competition in Finland

Mark Härö, a 25-year-old from Oulu, has long been determined to study medicine specializing in emergency, critical, or pre-hospital care. He has applied to medical school seven times and even moved closer to a medical university two years ago. While competition for medical school has slightly eased, it remains challenging; this year, there were over 5,700 primary applicants for Finnish-language medical programs, with only 870 accepted. In response to a significant shortage of doctors, especially in public healthcare, an additional 71 places for general medicine and 15 for veterinary medicine have been created, funded by 18.5 million euros from the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Despite the increased spots, many areas struggle to attract doctors, and even those studying in cities with medical programs face an uphill battle. Härö’s passion for medicine began at age 11 when his grandfather was hospitalized after a serious accident. For the past six years, after graduating high school, he has immersed himself in preparatory courses but has faced disappointment each summer when he didn’t gain admission.

Currently, it’s easier to be accepted at universities in Eastern Finland, while Helsinki poses the toughest challenge. Härö continues to pursue his dream despite accruing 20,000 euros in student loans related to his medical applications. This year, he qualified for dentistry instead, which shares initial study years with general medicine, potentially accelerating his future studies.

Minister Sari Multala acknowledged the chronic shortage of thousands of doctors in the country and emphasized the need to consider increasing training opportunities without compromising quality. Despite the increase, universities limit student numbers based on available resources. For now, Härö opts to stay in Finland, valuing his social ties and progressing towards his goal.