The Brazilian Association of Hematology, Hemotherapy and Cell Therapy (ABHH) hereby expresses its concern regarding Presidential Decree 11,999, dated April 17, 2024, which reduced the number of medical representatives (technicians) in the formation of the National Medical Residency Commission and doubled the number of representatives of the Federal Government.
The measure, in the opinion of the ABHH, is absolutely contrary to the commission's primary function, which is essentially technical. Health residency is a powerful tool for training professionals and specialists, and can be increasingly expanded, qualified and used as an instrument for the evolution, qualification and transformation of health in our country.
It is well known that other professions, outside the health area, have sought mechanisms similar to medical residency for the specialization of their recent graduates and this function must be guided mostly by qualified professionals.
According to data published by the Ministry of Education, Brazil currently has more than 45,079,000 resident doctors, distributed in 7,159 residency programs, authorized to train doctors in 55 specialties and 59 practice areas. The National Medical Residency Commission (CNRM) has accredited 996 institutions to offer medical residency programs, including universities, hospitals, and other health institutions. The occupancy rate of medical residency programs is over 95%, indicating the high demand for this form of specialization.
The ABHH is in favor of the joint position of the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB), the Federal Council of Medicine (CFM), the National Federation of Physicians (Fenam), the Federation of Physicians of Brazil (FM), the Brazilian Federation of Medical Academies (FBAM), the National Association of Resident Physicians (ANMR) and the National Academy of Medicine (ANM) appointed president last week.
