[Future prospects of the specialty of infectious diseases]

Infectious diseases were established as a subspecialty of internal medicine in Denmark in 1982. Ten permanent senior positions in Danish hospitals are at present held by specialists in infectious diseases. Simultaneously, seven specialists in infectious diseases employed in junior positions are qualified for senior positions. This number will increase to 15 by 1995. It is concluded that: 1. There is a serious imbalance in the specialty of infectious diseases between the number of senior positions available and the number of qualified specialists. 2. The reluctance on the part of hospital administrators to create new positions in the specialty of infectious diseases cannot be based on the fear of the lack of qualified applicants.