Madeira is projected to have 12 occupational medicine specialists by 2027, an increase of two from the current ten, with the completion of training for two interns. This forecast was shared by Rita Vieira, a representative of the National Association of Occupational Medicine Physicians (ANAMET) in the region.
Vieira highlighted the progress made in the last two years and acknowledged the support from the Regional Health Secretariat in training new specialists. She also noted a shift in mindset among companies and workers, who are increasingly recognizing the importance of occupational medicine for health and productivity.
Despite these advancements, the region still requires more specialists. The recommended ratio is one occupational physician per three thousand workers, meaning Madeira would need 47 specialists for an estimated active population of 140,000 people, indicating a shortfall of 37 physicians.
