Regional Government presents full-time work scheme for doctors more attractive than national one - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

The Regional Government announced the implementation of a new full-time regime for medical workers in the Autonomous Region of the Azores (RAA), with more favourable conditions than those defined by the national scheme.

The proposed Regional Legislative Decree adapted Decree-Law 103/2023 to the Azorean regional context and was drawn up after consulting with the unions.

According to the Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security, Mónica Seidi, "this law is an improved version of the national law," ensuring that these professionals are valued.

She stressed the Regional Government's commitment to "creating more favourable conditions for attracting and maintaining human resources in the health sector, thus ensuring a more effective response to the needs of the Azorean population."

Other innovations include the voluntary basis of the full-time work scheme. While the national law provides for automatic accession, requiring a declaration of rejection from the doctor who does not wish to do so, accession in the Azores will be voluntary through an individual declaration addressed to the management bodies of the respective health unit.

This scheme will cover hospital care, general and family medicine, public health, and occupational medicine, areas that were left out of the national legislation. This wider coverage is the result of the unions' collaboration and proposals to attract human resources to these specific areas and ensure care coverage in the various aspects of the Regional Health Service.

Additionally, the Regional Secretary for Health highlights the flexibility introduced as regards working conditions: "We are not going to demand work on Saturdays," Mónica Seidi assured, emphasising that this is one of the important differences regarding the national system.

The implementation of this scheme has also taken into account the geographical specificities of the Region, especially in terms of primary health care and the minimum number of users that each doctor has on their list.

"We have taken into account the geographical conditions of our Region, within the scope of primary health care and the minimum number of patients on each doctor's list," said Mónica Seidi.

The Regional Secretary for Health and Social Security highlighted the importance of a different approach, saying that one cannot "treat alike what is different," thus emphasising the need to adapt policies to the specificities of the Azores.

Mónica Seidi also pointed out the importance of the negotiation process.

She explained: "Showing openness to dialogue, the unions were heard and contributed to the final version. There were compromises on both sides to reach this point, but I am very pleased with the constructive manner in which our dialogue was conducted."

Doctors who opt for the full-time scheme are required to work 35 hours a week, plus five hours of complementary care. In return, they will receive a salary supplement corresponding to 25% of their base monthly salary, which will also be considered when calculating their holiday and Christmas bonuses.

Access to this scheme will not be possible for professionals working part-time and will be incompatible with technical management, coordination or leadership duties in health organisations in the private or social sector, regardless of the agreements with the Regional Health Service.

In addition, doctors or their direct family members will be limited to a maximum of 10% of equity in these entities.

The measure could result in a financial impact of up to 6 million Euros per year if all eligible medical professionals opt for this scheme.  

The Regional Government considers that, in an increasingly competitive context, it is essential to find ways of attracting, maintaining and acknowledging the value of medical workers, thus ensuring that the salary expectations of professionals and the care needs of the Azorean population are met.

The proposal will now be submitted to the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores for consideration and deliberation.