More than 60,000 doctors have been invited to vote in the elections, which will take place between January 10 and 19, to elect their new chief, with six candidates vying for the position currently held by Miguel Guimarães.
Rui Nunes, Alexandre Valentim Lourenco, Bruno Maia, Carlos Cortés, Fausto Pinto and Jaime Branco are six candidates for the presidency of the Medical Association for a three-year term 2023/2025.
In addition to the President of the Medical Association, 61,133 doctors will also be able to elect the administrative bodies of the Assembly of Representatives, the Supreme Council, and the regional and sub-regional bodies of the disciplinary councils.
An official source from the Medical Syndicate told Lusa that if none of the presidential candidates obtain the necessary majority, there will be a second round on February 17.
One of the six candidates for the presidency is an obstetrician-gynecologist and president of the Southern Regional Council of Ordem dos Medicos (OM) in the term ending, Alexandre Valentim Lourenço, whose candidacy was based on three axes aimed at strengthening the physician, medicine and system.
For Alexandre Valentim Lourenço, “health depends on an agile and transparent health system with a qualified, robust and diversified response.”
“Together for health” was the motto of candidate Carlos Cortes, clinical pathologist and head of the regional department of the OM center in this state, who proposes to lead a command that is “independent, independent and always involved, that is, not complacent or submissive” and guarantees that it will be a “united and close” leader .
Neurologist Bruno Maia, if elected, promises “an order close to users and open to society, which breaks down conservatism and elitism”, with users, the NHS and the medical career as its top priority, especially for younger doctors and in more severe cases.
Rheumatologist and Professor Jaime Branco proposes to “restore the leadership of health units to physicians and to ensure better management of human resources and better health care for people”, to respond to the increasing deterioration in the social communication system.
He stood for a “deep and structural” reform of the health system, which modernizes health centers with hospitals, and creates conditions for doctors, says Rui Nunes, an otolaryngologist and professor at the University of Porto’s Faculty of Medicine. Their mission is “through the power of influence”
Cardiologist and Director of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Lisbon, Fausto Pinto, has also applied for the position of Chief Physician, with the aim of creating a “stronger and more independent system of rigor and excellence”, committed to “defending and representing” all physicians in the country.
Among the main measures, Fausto Pinto proposes a less bureaucratic system closer to the citizens, as well as advocating a universal health system with its various components – public, private and social.
