"Rejection of the More Doctors program is part of democracy"

Bahia 247

Health Minister Alexandre Padilha downplayed the negative reactions from healthcare professionals and opposition politicians to the Mais Médicos program, launched by President Dilma Rousseff last week to reduce the shortage of doctors in rural towns and underserved areas of metropolitan centers.

In Salvador this Friday, where he is participating in a training workshop for municipalities in Bahia to join the program, Padilha said that rejection is part of democracy and reaffirmed that the government is "focused" on meeting the demand for doctors in the most affected areas.

"When we made the decision to tackle this problem, we knew we would face resistance. For many years, the idea that there is a surplus of doctors in the country has been entrenched, but this is not true and needs to be addressed."

Padilha further argued that in the last ten years more than 140 jobs for doctors have been made available, but only 90 doctors have graduated, and that the government has increased the number of equipment by 70%, units by 40%, and beds by 17%, but only the number of doctors by 14%. "Those that exist are poorly distributed for various reasons, such as infrastructure."

The deadline for state and municipal representatives to submit lists of doctors for the program is July 25th. According to the minister, if the number of applications is insufficient to address the shortage of doctors in Brazil, the government will seek professionals from other countries. He explained that Cuban doctors have come into play because Brazil already has an established commercial relationship with the country.

"The Ministry of Health has no prejudice against any country. But we have had partnerships with the Cuban health system for many years. We have 19 products that were developed there, we import their technology, vaccines, medicines. It is a country whose public health system has helped us a lot. If we have well-trained doctors in Cuba, with experience in providing care in hard-to-reach regions, we are interested."

In an article published on the Bocão News website, the minister mentioned the salary offered in the Mais Médicos program, of R$ 10 per month. However, he pointed out that for those working in locations with more difficult access, there will be a cost of R$ 20 for travel.

He said that the program aims not only to bring in doctors, but also to expand investments in the area. "We are going to tackle all the problems. Infrastructure problems, training more professionals, giving more opportunities for young people from the interior and the outskirts to attend medical school, more opportunities for specialization, and if there is a shortage of doctors, we will bring them from abroad."