in suspense. Why do pediatricians lack health services?

Santa Fe. – Although the problem has only gained notoriety in the past few days, it is not new in the fields of medicine: there is a shortage of pediatricians in Argentina. And if everything continues as it is today, in a period of 5-10 years, the country will have few specialists in children and, accordingly, a serious crisis in Public Health. “We are the only country in the region that suffers from this inconvenience. We believe that it is necessary to have a discussion and analysis of the whole society, as the state, universities and scientific societies should discuss and rethink the model of professional practice of clinical specialties ”, President of the Argentine Pediatric Association (succulents), Paul Moreno.

In this capital, the Education and Research Directorate of Children’s Hospital d. Orlando Alassia diagnosed the situation and made proposals for the short, medium and long term, including training time in the medical profession. This made it possible to point out that the concern goes beyond the province and has already been established at the national level based on reports confirming that the vacancies for residencies in pediatrics are not covered.

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The report lists some of the possible causes of the phenomenon: working conditions. Thus, the large workload, the number of years required to specialize, and the multiple positions appear as some of the reasons why pediatrics does not emerge as a priority among those studying medicine.

Not a single piece of information went unnoticed among specialists: “In October 2022, 6 residents entered the Alasya Children’s Hospital, covering 50% of the vacant positions.” Thus, the problem does not change much from the panorama observed in the past two years; he is called, The interest of applicants for training in pediatrics has been reducedThere is a shortage of pediatricians to fill strategic positions and if this scenario does not change in the short term the system will show significant weaknesses in the care of children and adolescents.

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What is worrisome, at least, is the panorama that specialists refer to as reflecting the reality of Santa Fe medicine, is that the lack of human resources affects not only the pediatric service but most of the specialties that are a priority, both for medicine. Primary health care as well as critical care that could not fill their quotas.

The head of SAP went further in his warning. Speaking to a media outlet in Mendoza, he warned: “For several years we have been expressing our concern to the authorities about the decrease in coverage of accommodation quotas across the country. In 2021 we conducted a survey and found that 30% of housing is not covered. Moreno predicted that this year, which has not yet been closed for a new case, the results will be worse, they are more worrying.”

in case if santa feA work prepared by former directors of Alasia Hospital, he noted, “The Pediatric Residency is the basis for training human cadres trained in the comprehensive care of children and adolescents in outpatient and inpatient settings and a basis for the development of specialties. Pediatrician. You work at least eight hours a day plus two shifts per week. It is necessary to bear the stress involved in caring for seriously ill or complexly ill children. In addition to having to double the effort during epidemics and disasters, during many holidays and holidays, the resident doctor spends them working in the hospital.”

Perhaps that is why a piece of information emerges that can begin to shed light on the problem: The number of graduates in 2017, who switched to pediatrics, was not enough to cover the jobs offered in 2019. But also, the study from Santa Fe mentioned an argument about pediatrician training requirements: There are 6 years of a medical profession, 3 or 4 years of a specialty and between 2 and 4 if doing a subspecialty. This results in something that many societies notice, such as moon lightpoor working conditions, low income, and little professional recognition. This leads to a shortage of pediatric specialists’ which makes it difficult to cover guards and emergency services. In this context, society Young doctors see pediatrics as a profession that requires a lot of work and little economic recognitiona much-needed major with a bleak future,” the report highlighted.

Why are there no pediatricians?

The diagnosis went further and assessed that “many young professionals prioritize other personal projects and do not think about the distant future, so long-term training projects lose steam”.

“We are with the just doctorsAlasya director warned, Osvaldo Gonzalez CarrilloTo warn: “Paediatrician shortages are an almost global problem.”

“All clinical specialties are in decline due to lack of interest and also because of an economic issue because surgical specialties are more profitable,” the professional admitted.

Meanwhile, many point to the economic situation as a determining factor. In this regard, the President of the Pediatric Society said: “Argentina is a federation, but it is also a federation in inequality. A resident who works 90 to 100 hours a week in Buenos Aires earns $120,000, but in Chaco he earns $80,000, with the responsibility involved. The resident is a trained physician, licensed to practice, trained in pediatrics.

According to the data obtained NationIn Santa Fe, the average salary the county pays to pediatricians who work in hospitals in its jurisdiction is close to $200,000. However, in many hospitals the in-house vacancies can not be filled in recent years.