“No doctor” has become one of the most heard phrases in primary care as well as in hospital care and emergency and emergency departments. Moreover, too repetitive to justify the statement waiting lists, delays in consultations, most absence of doctors At SAMU… And the situation will only get worse in the coming years.
According to a study by the Confederation of State Medical Associations, in 2028 4,000 to 11,000 additional specialists may be needed Retirements of family physicians who completed their training in Spain in the early 1980s are very evident. Moreover, the latest report from the Granada Medical Association Study Center shows that there will not be enough family physicians to meet these retirements. . Between 2021 and 2026 an average of 2,650 family physicians will retire by year. That is, approximately 16,000 people, most of whom are 12,000, provide their services in primary care.
This structural deficiency Systematic lack of foresight by paramedics The population is suffering serious consequences from the Alicante College of Physicians (COMA) about a situation that they have warned for years and that is in no case resolved by the option to replace doctors with other categories without the necessary training or qualifications.
Opening up this possibility to make up for the doctor shortage presupposes occupant professional qualifications; this is something against the law that the College of Alicante and the General Council of the Spanish Medical Associations cannot tolerate, and it is recognized by the justice system. But simply raising this option also means disregarding doctors and their values. tough trainingcannot be compared to any of them. «A minimum of 10 years of higher education is required To be able to carry out our activity: A six-year university education in medicine as well as a practice in the public health system is always a guarantee, to specialize after many shifts, research, study and long working hours. for the citizen, not forgetting such strong opposition as the MIR, by the way, it is not useful to find a job”, they confirm from COMA.
Ten years to specialize
this Doctors are absolutely necessary within the healthcare system. And it is essential to recognize its importance and level of preparation. They explain from the college «We are responsible for the outcome of the care of our patients.With whom we establish a relationship based on trust. This profession, which is professional and exciting as well as challenging and requiring expertise, is the locomotive of the health system and our doctors are the backbone and most valuable value. A value that has gained value in other countries, welcoming thousands of our experts with open arms for their enviable training over the past decade. The success of the MIR program is indisputable. But our health system should develop and innovate and have a short, medium and long-term strategy that plans together the available resources with all the organizations that are part of the Medical Profession Forum».
In the short term, Alicante College of Physicians “although we are already late if we want quality healthcare”, eliminate precarity and extend contracts, truly promote hard-to-cover vacancies, set patient quotas on more overloaded consultations. “and in short, reevaluate our doctors and take good care of them”.
In the medium and long term, the solution to the problem should always be global. It is not limited to just expanding the number of graduates or MIR open positions. First, you must have official demographic study detailed information allowing to know the needs of each specialty, taking into account the population aging and also which teaching units are available. They emphasize “We train doctors, we do not produce doctors” from COMA.
medical leadership
Therefore, we face many challenges and it is urgent to address the problems of the profession as a cycle, starting with the admission of students to faculties, passing through universities. specialist training (MIR), your transfer to the business world and until retirement. These decisions should never be isolated.
However, resolving competency conflicts with other health professions is no less important. “No one can object that we are facing a problem. multidisciplinary modelBut what we cannot consent to is the questioning of medical leadership and the disregard of our medical professionals when making decisions that affect their clinical practice.”
“Physicians must take a step forward. After six waves of COVID-19 and the pandemic is not over, it is urgent that governments make these reforms and work hand in hand with their doctors. It is more than just diagnosis, and this College of Physicians has put itself at the disposal of governments. advice and assistance towards a quality health systemshould never be tied to partisan interests.
That is why the Board of Alicante College of Physicians continues to operate prudently and independently and transparently. commitment to members and society: Always defending the profession and good medical practices in the Code of Ethics, citizen service profession; to demand the leadership of professional authority in scientific knowledge and to combat political interference in the health system that conditions professional practice and degrades the quality of care, affecting patients who are the true recipients of universal health care.
It’s not SAMU without a doctor
Can you imagine a school without a teacher, a court without a judge? Thus begins the video of the campaign launched by COMA and the Valencian Community Medical Association. citizens report incidents and irregularities Incidents at the Emergency Medical Services (SAMU) in the Community of Valencia. A serious traffic accident puts the audience in the following scenario, in which they are asked if they can imagine a SAMU without a doctor.
Through this video, the population is warned of the consequences for their safety if they go somewhere. life threatening case a unit without a doctor. Despite the Decree of 11 July 2000 regulating the Emergency Information and Coordination Centers, a situation that has spread due to the high precarity that exists in the health emergency services reveals that SAMU is a team. medicala nurse and one driver–stretcher carrier.
Among the duties of the physician SAMU To provide health services at the source of the demand (public road, patient home and health center) in line with the instruction received from the intensive care unit and the evaluation made “in situ”; Caring for the patient in adequate life support conditions and takes responsibility and coordination of the SAMU team, among other maintenance and during transport.
with the aim of being to guarantee the safety and quality of health care The College of Physicians and the Medical Association of citizens and doctors irregularities will be sent to legal services.