Medical students lament that 426 vacancies for specialties remain unfilled

The National Association of Medical Students (ANEM) expressed concern over 426 unfilled specialty training positions, particularly in general and family medicine and internal medicine. The association highlighted that these specialties are crucial for the National Health Service (SNS) and emphasized the need for measures to make them more attractive to new doctors. The recent selection process for specialty training resulted in 2,338 available positions, with 554 candidates not choosing a specialty. Many medical students are considering emigration due to workload, bureaucracy, and professional recognition issues. ANEM's president, Maria Fontão, called for understanding the reasons behind the lack of interest in these essential areas.