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The Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) and the Mutual Médica Foundation launch a pioneering initiative that seeks to accompany and train rural doctorsessential to guarantee health care in our towns.
In Spain, more than 17,000 family doctors —40% of the total—work in rural areas. Their work is essential so that people who live far from big cities can have access to healthcare.
However, those who practice in rural areas face added difficulties: professional insulation, long distances, patient overload and lack of resources.
Added to this situation is a problem that worries the entire system: the workforce aging. It is estimated that one in three rural doctors will retire in the next five yearswhich represents around 4,500 professionals.
A support network for family doctors
To respond to this challenge, semFYC, together with the Mutual Médica Foundation, has launched the Rural Mentoring Project. The initiative connects young doctors who start working in towns (the so-called mentees) with experienced doctors who have been practicing for years in rural environments (the mentors).
In this way, more experienced professionals can accompany, advise and share practical knowledge with those new to the rural consultation. The objective is clear: reduce isolation, reinforce the medical vocation and guarantee that towns continue to have quality primary care.
Dr. Remedios Martín, president of semFYC, explains that her objective is “to achieve a Strong, equitable and sustained primary care also in rural areas“. In his opinion, “mentoring is a powerful tool for professional development and, given the imminent lack of generational change“We want to anticipate by generating a network of support and knowledge.”
For his part, Dr. Alejandro Andreu, president of the Mutual Médica Foundation, adds: “Taking care of the doctor is also taking care of the future of our society“. Explains that the organization is committed to “accompany those who practice in the most complex environments, promote their professional development and reduce the isolation they often suffer“.
Training and professional growth
In addition to the relationship between mentors and mentees, the project offers specialized courseslike that of home carewith 42 hours of training aimed at improving the quality of care for patients in their homes.
The first edition of the program is already operating in the pilot phase in Andalusia, Extremadura and La Riojawith the intention of extending to all of Spain in the coming years.
Rural doctors: a pillar at risk
According to the General Council of Official Medical Colleges (CGCOM), in provinces such as Zamora or Soriauntil the 80% of family doctors work in rural areas. Despite this, many professionals must travel between several municipalities to be able to care for their patients. He 88% of rural doctors personally cover the costs which this means, without receiving any budget allocation from the Administration, according to the CGCOM.
Besides, only one in four family doctors in Spain manages to reconcile their work and personal lives, which makes it even more difficult to attract new professionals to rural medicine.
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