The National Federation of Doctors (Fnam) today criticized the Ministry of Health for not opening around one thousand positions for family doctors, warning that offering fewer positions reduces the likelihood of attracting candidates.
On Monday, the Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS) announced that out of the 389 family doctors who recently completed their specialty training, only 231 selected one of the 585 available positions in the latest recruitment for placements in local health units.
“This is a very low number, and it is causing frustration because, at this stage, we even have doctors who want to stay in the NHS and simply did not have their position,” highlighted the president of Fnam, Joana Bordalo e Sá, in statements to Lusa.
Emphasizing that each position corresponds to about 1,600 patients and that more than 1.6 million people are still without a family doctor, the leader argued for the need to open approximately 1,000 positions nationally.
“If we assume that each family doctor will have around 1,600 patients, it’s just a matter of doing the math. We understand that at least 1,000 doctors are lacking. By opening only half, (…) it reduces the likelihood of people choosing the positions,” she specified.
Joana Bordalo e Sá noted that the Ministry of Health “repeated last year’s mistake” by not opening all available positions.
“This is unacceptable. (…) This year it was even more flagrant… [The ministry] needs to open all positions because it gives people more opportunities to choose one and not be left out of the NHS [National Health Service],” she stated.
Fnam will join the movement “One List, One Vacancy” and will be present at vigils scheduled for next Saturday, June 28, at 19:30, in support of the NHS and General and Family Medicine (MGF).
The vigils will take place at the Norton de Matos Health Center in Coimbra and at the Porto City Hall, where the president of Fnam will be present.
The federation also supported the public petition “It is urgent to open all vacancies in General and Family Medicine and ensure regular mobility contests” (https://peticaopublica.com/?pi=PT125952), which already has 3,225 signatures.
The petition calls for the opening of all vacancies in MGF and for regular mobility contests to ensure the discussion reaches parliament and useful proposals are discussed to maintain the sustainability of the NHS.
