Rousseff says Brazilian people asked for “More Doctors” program

Criado em 11/09/13 16h30 e atualizado em 11/09/13 16h31
Por Vitor Abdala Edição:s Fonte:Agência Brasil

Rio de Janeiro – People’s demands urged the Brazilian government to launch the More Doctors program, president Dilma Rousseff declared on Wednesday (September 11) in Rio de Janeiro. In her words, “The government can’t be deaf. A government should hear a lot. And, besides hearing, we know that Brazil has a serious health care problem. That’s why we’ve created the More Doctors program.”

Rousseff responded to the criticism from the Brazilian doctors who oppose the recruitment of foreign doctors by the program: “When the interests of the people are at stake, there’s no greater interest, [nor is there] the interest of any corporation, or of any segment. We respect the doctors of this country, because they’ve always made a significant contribution. Our assessment now is: there’s a shortage of doctors. That’s why we’ve created the More Doctors program.”

According to the president, in areas where there are no doctors, the government will do “whatever is possible and also the impossible” to make sure the areas in need are served: “The shortage in our country is such that not a single doctor can be found among the dwellers of 701 municipalities,” and she added: “We’re planning to solve a critical and urgent problem, because people’s health must not wait for the doctors to graduate.”

Rousseff further said that what Brazil is doing is no different from what other countries, including “rich” ones, have done in the past. She pointed out that Canada, the US, and the UK have over 25% of its medical workforce made up of foreign doctors. In Brazil, this percentage is lower than 2%.

The government also plans to improve the infrastructure of hospitals. The president fostered the decision to allot 25% of the pre-salt oil royalties to the country’s health care system, and argues that 50% of the parliamentary amendments should be dedicated to health care.

Editors: Valéria Aguiar / Lícia Marques
Translators: Fabrício Ferreira