A Silent Crisis: The Shortage of Specialist Doctors
The president of the Catalan Society of Family and Community Medicine (CAMFiC), Dr. Antoni Sisó, echoes a worrying reality: the lack of professionals specialized in family medicine, one of the most important challenges that still has to face the primary care in Catalonia.
Dr. Sisó underlines the urgent need for this situation to be a priority for the governments, both the Generalitat and the State, as it has a direct impact on the quality of care that citizens receive.
Faced with Promises and Facts: The Persistent Crisis
Despite repeated promises and political speeches that have sought to position primary care as a key part of the health system, the president of CAMFiC points out that there is still a long way to go.
Sisó focuses the discussion on the need to strengthen the financial foundations of primary care and highlights the importance of prioritizing training and support for professionals, especially at a time marked by mass retirements.
Security at stake: The risk of a shortage of professionals
The president of CAMFiC warns of the negative consequences of hiring doctors without the required specialty, endangering the safety and quality of medical care. This practice, he laments, is more common than one might think, with an alarming 20% of doctors in the CAP without the necessary specialty.
It advocates the need for a substantial investment by the State in the training of new specialized professionals, as well as the implementation of measures to dignify their work and improve the remuneration system.
Management and Instability: The Challenge of Continuous Change
Fragmented management and constant changes in the leadership of the Department of Health represent a significant obstacle to the implementation of necessary structural reforms. The various ministerial changes in recent years have generated uncertainty and difficulty for the development of long-term projects.
The president of CAMFiC laments the lack of continuity in health policies and warns that without clear direction and stability, efforts to improve primary care will be in vain.
Fighting Tobacco: A Health Imperative
Dr. Sisó emphasizes the importance of strong measures to deal with tobacco consumption, considered one of the main risk factors for chronic diseases and premature death. It urges governments to implement more severe and effective restrictions to reduce their impact on public health.
Tackling this issue requires a comprehensive approach, which includes not only restrictive policies but also educational campaigns and support for those who want to quit smoking.
