Satisfying this need “but recognizing the low attractiveness for other doctors with already recognized diplomas – and even with public commitments already made to Cuban doctors – and despite doubts regarding the suitability of the competence of the Medical Association, especially at the headquarters for the recognition of specialties and confirmation of communication for doctors for whom Portuguese is not their native language” (…) The President of the Republic unveiled the diploma, according to a statement on the official website of the President of the Republic.
The diploma in question was approved by the government in its final form on August 24. The Decree-Law provides for an exceptional and temporary regime for the recognition of foreign academic degrees in the field of medicine for the purpose of recruiting doctors into the National Health System.
The diploma had already been approved by the government in July, but in August the Council of Ministers approved its final version.
In June, the Ministry of Health recognized the possibility of hiring foreign doctors, the possibility of which will be assessed based on the results of competitions and the recruitment of specialists by the SNS units themselves.
In July, following a meeting of the Council of Ministers at which the first version of the diploma was approved, the Minister of the Presidency Mariana Vieira da Silva emphasized that the new legislation would make it possible to respond to the shortage of professionals in some areas. areas such as healthcare.
In parliament, Health Minister Manuel Pizarro announced the recruitment of 200 to 300 doctors from Latin America to work for three years in health centers in the regions of Alentejo, Algarve, Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, after the Jornal de Notícias reported that the government was preparing hire 300 Cuban doctors for SNS.
The Medical Association challenged the automatic recognition of foreign medical specialties in the secretariat, defending their recognition by the jury based on the criteria used to validate medical specialties in Portugal.