[Means for improving the teaching of parasitology in higher medical academic institutions]

In our country's population, the high incidence of parasitoses of various origin is largely due to physicians' poor knowledge of parasitology. Information on major parasitic diseases, provided to students at all higher medical educational establishments, is fragmentary and scarce. For effective preparation of some graduates, the Medical Prevention Faculty, Department of Epidemiology, Saint Petersburg State Medical Academy, has elaborated a model programme for subsequent 3-year postgraduate training both of professionally qualified epidemiologists and parasitologists (1 year for medical postgraduates and 2 years for junior doctors who will specialize in a particular field). This programme provides a comprehensive theoretical background, practical skills, and preparation for making researches, investigations, and practical work.