Jaume Padrós, the president of the College of Doctors of Barcelona, recently spoke about the healthcare situation in Catalonia in an interview with ‘Regió 7’. Padrós, who describes himself as a non-centralist Barcelonan with roots in Navarcles, Monistrol, and Sant Vicenç de Castellet, attended the inaugural event of the new premises of the College of Physicians delegation in the Bages region.
Padrós expressed concerns about the shortage of doctors in the region, attributing the issue to a lack of planning by political leaders. He emphasized that the criteria for studying medicine should not be solely based on grades, as being a doctor requires more than just academic knowledge.
Regarding the shortage of doctors in the country, Padrós highlighted the unexpected retirement of the baby boom generation and the increase in population and dependency, leading to a greater demand for healthcare professionals. He stressed the need for a different organization and better working conditions to retain good professionals outside the metropolitan area.
Padrós also addressed the bureaucratic burden on primary doctors, suggesting that slimming down bureaucracy would allow them to spend more time on patient care. He noted that it is difficult to find doctors in central Catalonia and emphasized the importance of maintaining quality healthcare services throughout the region.
Regarding the role of hospitals like Sant Joan de Déu de Manresa, Padrós praised the hospital for its quality services and highlighted the importance of reinforcing it to maintain healthcare quality in the region. He also discussed the significance of primary care and the role of the UVic-UCC Faculty of Medicine in providing quality education and services to inland Catalonia.
In conclusion, Padrós emphasized the need for collaboration and innovative solutions to address the healthcare challenges facing Catalonia.