Características del servicio social para profesionales médicos en los estados andinos / Characteristics of compulsory service programs for medical professionals in the Andean states

INTRODUCCIÓN: Se ha estudiado poco sobre el impacto de los programas de servicio social en salud en el desarrollo profesional de médicos de los Estados Andinos (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Venezuela), programas cuya finalidad es incrementar los recursos humanos en salud en zonas rurales y remotas. OBJETIVO: Describir la normativa de los programas de servicio social para profesionales médicos de los Estados Andinos. MÉTODOS: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de documentos normativos concernientes al servicio social para profesionales médicos en sitios web de gobiernos de los Estados Andinos, con la finalidad de obtener información la condición de servicio, financiamiento del programa/remuneraciones y modos de adjudicación. Adicionalmente, se empleó el motor de búsqueda PubMed para complementar la información sobre servicios sociales obligatorios en estos países. RESULTADOS: El servicio social para profesionales médicos está establecido bajo un marco normativo en todos los Estados Andinos, a excepción de Argentina, donde no existe este programa. Los participantes perciben una remuneración, salvo en Bolivia, donde el servicio es realizado por estudiantes. Los sistemas de adjudicación para estos programas son heterogéneos, siendo que en algunos Estados Andinos existe asignación de plazas según criterios meritocráticos. La participación en programas sociales en salud condiciona el ejercicio profesional (Ecuador, Colombia y Venezuela) y el poder realizar una especialización (Chile y Perú). CONCLUSIONES: Se requiere estudiar del impacto de estos programas en el desarrollo profesional del participante, con el objetivo de implementar estrategias de mejora adecuadas a sus contextos particulares.

INTRODUCTION: There are few studies on the impact of social service programs on health in the professional development of doctors in the Andean States (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela). The purpose of these programs is to increase the availability of human resources in health in rural and remote areas. OBJECTIVE: To describe the regulations of social service programs for medical professionals in the Andean countries. METHODS: We carried out a bibliographic review of normative documents concerning the social service for medical professionals using websites of governments of the Andean States as data sources. We sought to obtain information regarding service conditions, funding of these programs­including remunerations, and means of program allocation. Additionally, we used PubMed/MEDLINE to find complementary information on mandatory social services in these countries. RESULTS: Social service for medical professionals is established under a regulatory framework in all the Andean countries, except for Argentina, where this program does not exist. Participants receive remuneration (except in Bolivia, where students perform the service). The allocation systems used for these programs are heterogeneous, and in some Andean countries, the allocation is merit-based. Participation in social programs influences later professional opportunities (Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela) and the ability to specialize (Chile and Peru). CONCLUSIONS: It is necessary to study the impact of these programs on the professional development of the participants to design and implement quality improvement strategies tailored to each context.

The gender differences in highly paid wage: a case study of Peruvian physicians / Las diferencias de género en los sueldos de mejor remuneración: el estudio de caso de los médicos peruanos / Diferenças de gênero em salários altos: um estudo de caso de médicos peruanos

Abstract: In recent decades, the number of women pursuing careers in health has significantly increased. However, the physician labor market is still characterized by gender differences regarding payment. Using a nationally representative Peruvian sample of health providers (3,219 male and 1,063 female physicians), we estimated the gender gap in the likelihood of earning high wages for physicians and decomposed this gap in a proportion related to differences in individual characteristics (e.g. specialty, labor experience), and a residual proportion related to differences in returns to these characteristics. Our main results reveal that male physicians have on average an 81% higher likelihood of earning high salaries (monthly earning level > 5,000 PEN) relative to their female counterparts. Further, the main proportion of this gap is associated to the unexplained component (among 57% and 77%, according to the model specification), which may be associated to unobservable characteristics and discrimination in the Peruvian labor market.

Resumen: En décadas recientes, el número de mujeres realizando su carrera en el ámbito de salud se ha incrementado significativamente. No obstante, el mercado laboral de los médicos está todavía caracterizado por diferencias de género respecto a los salarios. Utilizando una muestra peruana nacionalmente representativa de proveedores de salud (3.219 hombres y 1.063 mujeres médicos), estimamos la brecha de género en la probabilidad para los médicos de ganar sueldos altos y la desglosamos según los porcentajes vinculados a las diferencias relacionadas con las características individuales (p.ej. especialidad, experiencia laboral) y un porcentaje residual vinculado a las diferencias relacionadas con estas características. Nuestros resultados principales revelaron que los médicos hombres contaban en promedio con un 81% mayor probabilidad de ganar sueldos más altos (nivel mensual de renta > 5.000 PEN) frente a sus compañeras mujeres. Asimismo, gran parte del porcentaje de esta brecha está asociado a un componente inexplicable (entre un 57% y un 77%, según la especificación del modelo), lo que tal vez esté relacionado con las características no observables y la discriminación en el mercado laboral peruano.

Resumo: Nas últimas décadas, o número de mulheres atuando em carreiras da saúde aumentou significativamente. Contudo, o mercado de trabalho médico continua caracterizado por diferenças de gênero nos salários. Usando uma amostra nacional representativa de profissionais da saúde peruanos (3.219 médicos e 1.063 médicas), nós estimamos a diferença de gênero na probabilidade de receber altos salários para médicos e decompomos essa diferença em uma proporção relacionada a diferenças em características individuais (p.ex.: especialidade, experiência profissional) e uma proporção residual relacionada a diferenças de retornos dessas características. Nossos resultados principais revelam que os médicos têm, em média, uma probabilidade 81% maior de receber salários altos (nível de rendimentos mensais > 5.000 PEN) em relação às médicas. Adicionalmente, a principal proporção dessa diferença está associada ao componente não-explicado (entre 57% e 77%, de acordo com a especificação do modelo), o que pode estar associado a características não-observadas e discriminação no mercado de trabalho peruano.

Effects of Physician Volume on Readmission and Mortality in Elderly Patients with Heart Failure: Nationwide Cohort Study

PURPOSE: Readmission and mortality rates of patients with heart failure are good indicators of care quality. To determine whether hospital resources are associated with care quality for cardiac patients, we analyzed the effect of number of physicians and the combined effects of number of physicians and beds on 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used national cohort sample data of the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) claims in 2002–2013. Subjects comprised 2345 inpatients (age: >65 years) admitted to acute-care hospitals for heart failure. A multivariate Cox regression was used. RESULTS: Of the 2345 patients hospitalized with heart failure, 812 inpatients (34.6%) were readmitted within 30 days and 190 (8.1%) had died within a year. Heart-failure patients treated at hospitals with low physician volumes had higher readmission and mortality rates than high physician volumes [30-day readmission: hazard ratio (HR)=1.291, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.020–1.633; 1-year mortality: HR=2.168, 95% CI=1.415–3.321]. Patients admitted to hospitals with low or middle bed and physician volume had higher 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality rates than those admitted to hospitals with high volume (30-day readmission: HR=2.812, 95% CI=1.561–5.066 for middle-volume beds & low-volume physicians, 1-year mortality: HR=8.638, 95% CI=2.072–36.02 for middle-volume beds & low-volume physicians). CONCLUSION: Physician volume is related to lower readmission and mortality for heart failure. Of interest, 30-day readmission and 1-year mortality were significantly associated with the combined effects of physician and institution bed volume.

Ingresos económicos en médicos peruanos según especialidad: Un análisis transversal de la ENSUSALUD 2015 / Economic income in peruvian physicians according to the specialty: A cross-sectional analysis of the ENSUSALUD 2015

RESUMEN Objetivos Evaluar la asociación entre tener una especialidad médica y el ingreso económico mensual en médicos peruanos, y comparar los ingresos económicos entre áreas con mayor y menor densidad de médicos en Perú. Materiales y métodos Se analizaron los datos de la Encuesta Nacional de Satisfacción de Usuarios de Salud realizada en Perú el año 2015. Esta encuesta con nivel de inferencia nacional fue realizada a médicos que laboran en establecimientos de salud de Perú. Se evaluó el ingreso económico considerando todas las actividades remuneradas del médico. Se calcularon las razones de prevalencia crudas y ajustadas (RP y RPa) y sus intervalos de confianza al 95% (IC95%) mediante regresiones de Poisson con varianza robusta, tomando en cuenta el muestreo complejo de la encuesta. Resultados De 2219 médicos encuestados, se analizaron 2154 (97,0%) observaciones. La frecuencia de ganar >S/ 5000 (1572,3 USD) mensuales fue de 29,1% en médicos generales; 65,6% en especialistas; 63,0% en especialidades clínicas; 70,5% en especialidades quirúrgicas, y 55,7% en otras especialidades. En comparación a los médicos generales, los médicos con especialidades clínicas, quirúrgicas, y otras especialidades, tuvieron más probabilidades de ganar >S/ 5000 mensuales (RPa = 1,44, 1,49, y 1,26, respectivamente). La probabilidad de ganar >S/ 5000 fue mayor en quienes laboraban en departamentos con baja densidad de médicos. Conclusiones Los ingresos económicos fueron mayores en médicos especialistas que en no especialistas. Los ingresos económicos fueron mayores en departamentos con menor densidad de médicos, lo cual puede animar a que los médicos laboren en dichos departamentos.

ABSTRACT Objectives To evaluate the relationship between having a medical specialty and the monthly income of Peruvian doctors, and to compare the economic incomes among areas with higher and lower density of medical doctors in Peru. Materials and methods : We analyzed data of the National Satisfaction Survey of Health Users (in Spanish: ENSUSALUD) carried out in Peru in the year 2015. This survey, with a national level of inference, was performed on physicians working at health facilities in Peru. Monthly income was measured considering all paid activities of the physician. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR and aPR) and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated through Poisson regression models with robust variance, taking into account the complex sampling of the survey. Results Out of 2 219 Physicians surveyed, 2 154 (97.0%) observations were analyzed. The probability of earning > S/5 000 (1 572.3 USD) per month was 29.1% for general practitioners; 65.6% for specialists; 63.0% for clinical specialists; 70.5% for surgeons, and 55.7% for other specialties. Compared to general practitioners, physicians with clinical, surgical, and other specialties were more likely to earn > S/5 000 per month (aPR = 1.44, 1.49, and 1.26, respectively). The probability of earning > S/5 000 was higher in those working in departments with low medical density. Conclusions Monthly incomes were higher for specialist physicians than for non-specialists. Economic incomes were higher in departments with lower density of physicians, which may encourage physicians to work in these departments.

Consultorios adyacentes a farmacias privadas en México: infraestructura y características del personal médico y su remuneración / Clinics adjacent to private pharmacies in Mexico: infrastructure and characteristics of the physicians and their remuneration

Objetivo. Analizar las características del personal médico y su remuneración, así como la infraestructura, apego a la regulación y servicios ofrecidos en consultorios adyacentes a farmacias (CAF), y compararlos con consultorios médicos independientes (CMI). Material y métodos. Cuestionario aplicado a 239 médicos generales en 18 entidades federativas, incluido el Distrito Federal, en México en 2012. Resultados. Los médicos en CAF tenían menor experiencia profesional (5 vs 12 años), menos estudios de posgrado (61.2% vs 81.8%) y menor salario base promedio mensual (MXN 5500 vs MXN 8500) que en CMI. En CAF hubo menor cumplimiento de la regulación en relación con la historia clínica y la receta médica. Conclusiones. Los aspectos laborales explorados de médicos en CAF son más precarios que en CMI. Es necesario fortalecer la aplicación de la regulación vigente para consultorios y generar políticas a partir del monitoreo de su funcionamiento, particularmente, pero no de forma exclusiva, en CAF.

Objective. To analyze and compare the physicians' characteristics, their remuneration, the compliance with regulation and the services offered between clinics adjacent to pharmacies (CAF) and independent medical clinics (CMI). Materials and methods. Questionnaire applied to 239 physicians in 18 states including the Federal District, in Mexico in 2012. Results. Physicians in CAF had less professional experience (5 versus 12 years), less postgraduate studies (61.2 versus 81.8%) and lower average monthly salaries (USD 418 versus USD 672) than their peers in CMI. In CAF there was less compliance in relation to medical record keeping and prescribing. Conclusions. The employment situation of physicians in CAF is more precarious than in CMI. It is necessary to strengthen the enforcement of existing regulations and develop policies according to the monitoring of its performance, particularly, but not exclusively, in CAF.

La migración de médicos en Venezuela / The emigration of physicians in Venezuela

OBJETIVO: Determinar los factores que podrían incidir en la intención de migrar a otros países por parte de profesionales de la salud venezolanos. MÉTODOS: Estudio exploratorio que aplicó respectivamente entrevista semi-estructurada y encuesta a una población conformada por cuatro profesionales de la salud y 36 estudiantes de medicina. Los datos de la entrevista fueron analizados por categorización deductiva e inductiva y los de la encuesta mediante análisis univariado y bivariado. RESULTADOS: Se observó una intención de emigrar general de 13,8 por ciento en los estudiantes, con diferencias entre los dos grupos incluidos en el estudio. Se halló un alto efecto motivador para migrar en las razones laborales (16,6 por ciento), particularmente la posibilidad de conciliar la vida personal y la laboral, obtener mejor remuneración, acceder a formación continua, trabajar en un mejor sistema de salud y disponer de recursos básicos para la práctica profesional. Se determinó que las razones profesionales ejercen un efecto motivador moderado (13,8 por ciento), mientras que las personales y contextuales no influyen de manera importante (menos de 3 por ciento). Aun cuando durante las entrevistas a los médicos graduados hubo choques de intereses políticos y económicos, solo 5,5 por ciento de los estudiantes encuestados consideraron la situación política o económica como factor expulsor en la fuga de profesionales. CONCLUSIONES: Se recomienda fortalecer la gestión y el desarrollo profesional del personal médico, conciliando sus expectativas con el marco legal y las necesidades del sistema de salud. Haría falta establecer un sistema de registro formal de la migración de profesionales y ampliar el estudio de los factores causales al nivel nacional, dado que un mejor conocimiento de estos fenómenos migratorios contribuiría a generar y sustentar propuestas que garanticen la autosuficiencia de recursos humanos de salud.

OBJECTIVE: Ascertain the factors that could affect the intention of Venezuelan health professionals to emigrate to other countries. METHODS: Exploratory study that applied a semistructured interview and survey, respectively, to a population consisting of four health professionals and 36 medical students. The interview data were analyzed by deductive and inductive categorization and the survey data by means of univariate and bivariate analysis. RESULTS: It was observed that 13.8 percent of the students generally intended to emigrate, with differences between the two study groups. It was found that work-related issues had a high motivating effect (16.6 percent), particularly the possibility of balancing work with personal life, better pay, access to continuing education, working in a better health system, and having the basic resources necessary for professional practice. It was determined that professional reasons had a moderate motivating effect (13.8 percent), whereas personal and contextual reasons had little influence (less than 3 percent). Although the interviews of physicians who had obtained their medical degree revealed clashes involving political and economic interests, only 5.5 percent of the students surveyed considered the political or economic situation a determinant in the emigration of professionals. CONCLUSIONS: It is recommended that the management and professional development of medical personnel be strengthened, reconciling their expectations with the legal framework and needs of the health system. A formal system for tracking the emigration of professionals and broadening the study of the causative factors at the national level should be set up, since better knowledge about the phenomena linked with emigration would help generate and support proposals to guarantee self-sufficiency with respect to human resources for health.

Perspectivas do sistema público de saúde no Brasil / Perspectives on the public health system in Brazil

Discute os componentes básicos de um sistema de saúde e certas possibilidades de reorganização, tendo em vista o desenvolvimento histórico dos serviços de saúde no Brasil i iniciativas no âmbito internacional. Analisa certos "diagnósticos" do sistema de saúde do Brasil e os projetos vinculados aos mesmos, destacando que o processo de alusão/ilusão tende a se confinar no âmbito ideológico, caso não seja progressivamente substituído por um esforço de explicitação das diferentes explicações sobre a situação e por uma ação política das forças sociais que as sustentam. Finaliza destacando a inserção dos médicos neste sistema de saúde em processo de mudança