Madeira Counts A Growing Healthcare Workforce
Madeira experienced a notable increase in its healthcare workforce in 2023. According to the latest data from the Regional Health Statistics, the medical profession saw a particular rise, with a 4.3% increase in the number of registered doctors compared to the previous year. The number of nurses also increased, reflecting a growing capacity to provide patient care.
On average, there were 10.3 nurses per thousand inhabitants in the Region, a ratio higher than in 2022 (10.0 per thousand).
Madeira Has 5.4 Doctors Per 1,000 inhabitants
According to provisional post-censal estimates of the Resident Population for 2023, based on the final results of the 2021 Census, there were an average of 5.4 doctors per thousand inhabitants in Madeira, an increase from 5.2 per thousand in the previous year. This growth was distributed unevenly across the region, with Funchal exhibiting the highest concentration of medical practitioners (9 doctors per thousand inhabitants). Conversely, the municipality of Santana had the lowest density (only 1.2 doctors per thousand inhabitants).
The Majority Of Doctors In Madeira Are Women
Of the total number of doctors in 2023, 802 (58.3%) were specialists, while 573 (41.7%) were not. By age group, 27.9% were less than 31 years old, and 16.6% were over 65 years old. Given that it takes many years of training for doctors to begin practicing, this represents a very robust generation of young doctors. Furthermore, the statistics reveal that 58% of doctors in Madeira are women.
According to their declared place of residence, 70.4% (968) of the doctors lived in Funchal, 13.4% (184) in Santa Cruz and 5.2% (71) in Câmara de Lobos.
Number Of Dentists Sees A Slight Decrease
Despite these findings, the number of registered dentists slightly decreased. There are currently 236 practicing dentists, a decline of 1,7% compared to 2022. However, with 0,9 dentists per thousand people, the region maintained a stable ratio of dentists. Pharmacists also saw a modest increase in their numbers, contributing to the overall expansion of the healthcare workforce.
Overall, A Positive Trend
These findings suggest that the RAM is making strides in strengthening its healthcare system. The increased number of medical professionals indicates a slightly greater capacity to meet the region's healthcare needs. However, further analysis is required to understand the implications of these trends for healthcare accessibility, quality, and outcomes. Let’s also see how it will develop once the Hospital Central e Universitário da Madeira will be open its doors to the public.
Source: DREM
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