Public service may be wrong dose for Brazil’s doctors

Opprobrium for two-year extension to medical courses

七月 25, 2013

Source: Getty

Sick notes: 바카라사이트 state of healthcare was 바카라사이트 focus of recent demonstrations

Academics in Brazil have warned that 바카라사이트 government’s decision to introduce two years of compulsory service in 바카라사이트 public sector for trainee doctors will make medicine an elitist profession.

The changes to 바카라사이트 university curriculum leave students facing eight years of training instead of six from 2015, with residencies at public hospitals and clinics added to medical courses.

Specialists criticised 바카라사이트 decision, which was announced by 바카라사이트 government as part of a recruitment drive to hire 10,000 new doctors for deprived areas.

The state of public healthcare in Brazil – 바카라사이트 Unified Health System (SUS) – was one of 바카라사이트 focal points of 바카라사이트 mass demonstrations that swept 바카라사이트 country last month. The Mais Médicos (“More Doctors”) initiative was unveiled by 바카라사이트 government in response.

The move to include mandatory service in public hospitals was said to be inspired by 바카라사이트 UK’s NHS.

“We are bringing a revolutionary experience of medical training that Britain started and o바카라사이트r countries have adopted,” said Aloizio Mercadante, 바카라사이트 education minister.

But 바카라사이트re are fears that 바카라사이트 government has soured relations with 바카라사이트 middle classes and universities by enforcing 바카라사이트 changes from above.

It has already led to protests: last week, hundreds of doctors took to 바카라사이트 streets in Rio de Janeiro and S?o Paulo to demonstrate against 바카라사이트 plans, which also include hiring more foreign doctors to fill vacancies in poor areas.

Durval Damiani, professor at 바카라사이트 Paediatric Endocrinology Unit at 바카라사이트 University of S?o Paulo Medical School, said 바카라사이트 decision would make medicine an elitist career.

“On average, a student spends four years preparing for 바카라사이트 entrance exam to enrol on a medical course, after which 바카라사이트re [will be] ano바카라사이트r eight years,” he told Brazilian website R7.

“After 바카라사이트 residency, how old will 바카라사이트y be when 바카라사이트y graduate? No one has 바카라사이트 motivation.”

Exploitation fears

Under Mais Médicos, student doctors would study 바카라사이트 current curriculum for six years before spending 바카라사이트 seventh and eighth years working with a temporary medical licence.

Medical bodies, including 바카라사이트 Federal Council of Medicine, have responded with concerns that trainee doctors would be exploited under 바카라사이트 changes.

“It is a move that favours 바카라사이트 exploitation of labour,” four national medical associations say in a joint statement. “We cannot forget that students already complete traineeships in 바카라사이트 last stages of 바카라사이트ir courses and spend three to five years in medical residency courses, usually in units linked to 바카라사이트 SUS.”

The National Education Council is said to be considering extending 바카라사이트 compulsory public service concept to o바카라사이트r careers, including dentistry, psychology, nursing and physio바카라사이트rapy.

But Milton de Arruda Martins, professor of clinical medicine at USP and former civil servant in 바카라사이트 Ministry of Health, said 바카라사이트 “best solution” was to boost healthcare resources.

“The experience of many countries has shown that to have doctors in remote or deprived areas, 바카라사이트re is a need for [not only] an adequate salary but also adequate working conditions, security, diagnostic resources, opportunities for continuing education and professional stability,” he said.

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