The Algarve's municipalities got together and are going to finance, with 600 thousand euros, the increase in the number of places for the medicine course at the University of Algarve (UAlg) starting this year.
This contract will be signed by AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community, University of Algarve, Association for the Development of the Academic Center for Research and Biomedical Training of the Algarve (AD-ABC) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education (through the General Directorate of Higher Education).
The decision was taken at the April meeting of the Intermunicipal Council.
The agreement ends on December 31, 2025 and provides that, each academic year, the number of enrollments in the Integrated Masters in Medicine «progressively increase, and in the fifth and final year, the number of enrollments shall not be less than 96 students (currently there are 64)», says AMAL.
According to AMAL, the «unanimity in the decision was approved for this first year, and in the next four years, the Central Administration, through the Ministry of Science and Technology and Higher Education, will be asked to assume this responsibility, which is its responsibility. ».
In a press release, the Algarve Intermunicipal Community considers “decisive the investment in all components of the health area in the Algarve region, namely equipment, research and development, health service responses and higher and postgraduate training in the area of health".
“For this reason, it responded in the affirmative to the challenge launched by the University and decided to contribute 600 thousand euros so that the increase in vacancies becomes a reality this year”, he adds.
The contract, in this first year, already foresees some compensation for the municipalities, namely the creation and development of projects, by the ABC (Algarve Biomedical Center), in articulation with the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve, which can improve the quality of the healthcare provided in the region, as well as attracting and retaining healthcare professionals in the Algarve.
This issue had already been addressed in the past by the PSD who considered it unfair that the Algarve's municipalities were financing the increase in vacancies for the Integrated Master's Degree in Medicine at UAlg, as this should be, they argued, a competence of the Government.
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