At the beginning of each year, the overtime counter for doctors returns to zero. But three months after the start of 2024, 1,274 specialist doctors have already worked more than 150 additional working hours each in emergency services, according to data from the Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS) sent to PÚBLICO. This number includes full-time physicians and other systems. As the overtime limit is reached, doctors can hand over minutes to refuse to do more Extra hours In addition to what is required by law. If many do so, the scenario that occurred at the end of last year where there were difficulties in stopping could be repeated.
By law, doctors are required to work 150 hours of overtime annually. But for those in hospitals who have committed full dedication, the annual limit has been raised to 250 hours per year. In emergency situations, it ends up being consumed. In the first two months of this year, according to data previously sent by the PS government, doctors have already worked just over a million overtime hours.
“The information provided refers to data recorded up to April by healthcare providers who are part of the SNS network,” ACSS said, explaining that the information recorded in the human resources and payroll system “indicates payment for additional work performed.” In March, there are instances where entities submit records with a file delay two months.”
As of April, hospital units had 5,663 doctors (no trainees) working in emergency services. Among the nearly 1,300 experts who had already passed roof Of the 150 overtime hours, 1,039 of them have a work system that sets an annual maximum of 150 hours of work.
The rest of the 235 specialist doctors joined in full dedication. While it is true that some of them have not yet exhausted the maximum, the fact is that in April there were “77 specialist doctors committed to full dedication with more than 250 additional hours working in emergency services,” the ACSS said.
He added that the full dedication system, which came into force on January 1, “aims to adopt planning and organizational mechanisms for work, with the aim of promoting better adaptation of the response of social networking services to the assistance needs of the population.” ACSS. As of April, “5,260 full-time specialist doctors have been registered,” a number that includes primary health care, hospitals, and public health. “Of this total, 2,818 provide health care services in hospitals,” ACSS explained.
“It’s a warning sign”
For the president of the National Federation of Doctors (Fnam), the numbers already calculated regarding overtime “raise concern, because they are very high,” especially since the reality at the end of this month will already be higher. “In general, 150 additional working hours are reached in the months of April and May,” Joana Bordallo e Sá stressed.
He added: “It is a warning signal, and I hope that this ministerial team will be able to listen to what we said, that doctors need a signal that will enable us to reach a successful outcome,” recalling that the summer period is entering “with a plan.” “It hasn’t been made yet.”
As for full dedication, the president of Fnam confirms that the percentage of hospital doctors participating is “very low.” Nothing surprises you. “Doctors do not accept the loss of rights, especially the issue of compensatory rest.”
Nuno Rodrigues, Secretary General of the Union of Independent Doctors, identifies another problem with great dedication. “It is a small number, because there are local health units that do not process full-time applications.”
Regarding doctors who have already exceeded the annual overtime cap, the official said this is a “more serious problem in peripheral hospitals.” He pointed out that in the first meeting with the minister, they called for “concrete short, medium and long-term measures that would give a signal to doctors that there is a path that must be followed between the unions and the government.” .
The expectation lies in the negotiations that may begin with the Ministry of Health, but Friday’s meeting ended without agreeing on the union’s protocol. The two unions are demanding the inclusion of a review of the salary network, in addition to other issues they consider essential, which the Minister did not initially take into account in the proposal she submitted. The next meetings are scheduled for June.