Pediatricians in Hungary call for parental authority over school absence certifications

Beatrix Rajháthy, Vice President of the Hungarian Medical Association, has expressed frustration regarding the administrative burden placed on pediatricians due to school absence certifications. She noted that doctors often spend significant time, sometimes up to an hour daily, managing paperwork and resolving technical errors within the KRÉTA school management system.

To reduce this workload and prevent the issuance of unnecessary or inaccurate medical certificates, the association suggests that parents should be granted a dedicated quota of absences they can certify themselves. This quota would vary by age, acknowledging that younger children tend to fall ill more frequently. The proposal aims to distinguish between minor administrative absences and those requiring formal medical documentation, thereby reducing the pressure on general practitioners and the misuse of medical certificates.