The Algarve will end 2017 «with more family doctors than in 2016», thanks to the 24 specialists in General and Family Medicine who will start working at the Algarve Health Centers in October.
These doctors arrive following the most recent competition for placement in the Primary Health Care services of newly trained specialists in General and Family Medicine, in which 290 vacancies were opened nationwide, 33 of which in the Algarve region. Of these, 24 ended up being occupied.
In statements to the Sul Informação, the president of the Algarve Regional Health Administration (ARS) Paulo Morgado considered the result of the most recent national competition for the placement of clinicians "very positive", taking into account that the adhesion to the vacancies in the Algarve was greater than usual.
“It would be much better to have all 33 vacancies filled. But taking into account that, in the last competitions, we had about 50% of the vacancies occupied and that, this time, we have more than 70%, the result is good», he considered.
"This will allow us to fulfill the goal we set ourselves, that of ending 2017 with more family doctors than in 2016", added the president of ARS do Algarve.
The good news is, mainly, for users, as this increase in clinicians will provide a family doctor for over 45 thousand people. A significant number, which will make it possible to further reduce the percentage of “without a doctor” in the Algarve.
“Right now, we are at around 80% coverage, at the level of family doctors. The arrival of these new professionals will allow this percentage to increase, although I still do not have an exact idea of the final numbers», he said.
Although there are still “great needs” in several municipalities in the Algarve, namely in Barlavento, the result of this competition allowed to alleviate the difficulties in some places. With this competition, the Health Centers of Albufeira, Portimão, Lagos, Lagoa, Faro and Loulé gained new doctors. The vacancies that were opened for Aljezur, Silves, Vila do Bispo and Tavira were not filled.
Paulo Morgado highlighted the fact that “many of these doctors [14] come from abroad, most of them from the Greater Porto area, but also from other parts of the country”. “In other words, we are attracting professionals from other regions and retaining those we train here”, he summed up.
Also indicative of the growing attractiveness of the region is the fact that ten of the 11 interns who made their specialty in Primary Health Care in the Algarve have decided to stay here.
And why are more doctors agreeing to establish themselves in the region? «I think that the incentive scheme for settling in areas considered to be in need, created this year, made a great contribution», believes the head of the Algarve ARS.
Professionals who settle in places «such as Albufeira or the Barlavento area», which are among those where there are more difficulties, are encouraged «in terms of salary and other types of benefits».
«On the other hand, there is the fact that we are encouraging the creation of new Family Health Units (USF). These new projects are always stimulating for doctors at the beginning of their careers, who are attracted by initiatives like this, which guarantee another level of quality,” he added.
According to Paulo Morgado, there are several new USF "in the pipeline", although he prefers not to say, for now, how many will appear in the future, nor in which locations, since the processes are not yet closed.
By the end of the year, the president of ARS do Algarve expects to open a national competition for the placement of specialists in hospitals. Here, too, greater adherence by clinicians is expected, "not least because the incentives extend to hospital care."
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