National medical and dental exams are on the Education Committee's agenda

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THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE MAY VOTE ON THE CREATION OF NATIONAL MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY EXAMS. UNDER THE PROPOSAL, ONLY CANDIDATES WHO PASSED THE TEST WILL BE ABLE TO REGISTER FOR THE REGIONAL COUNCILS. REPORTER PEDRO PINCER. The creation of national proficiency exams in medicine and dentistry may be voted on this Tuesday by the Education and Culture Committee. Authored by Astronaut Senator Marcos Pontes, from the São Paulo PL, the proposals determine that only people who pass the test will be able to register with the Regional Councils of Medicine and Dentistry and, consequently, practice the profession. The project calls for the test to be administered at least twice a year in all states and the Federal District. According to Marcos Pontes, the idea is to replicate the proficiency assessment model already adopted by the Brazilian Bar Association and the Federal Accounting Council. When mentioning that the country is second only to India in the number of medical courses offered, the senator justified the need for the test. What happens is that we have a very large number of medical schools, which results in a very large number of doctors graduating. When I saw this number, I said, great, right? It's great that the country has so many excellent doctors. When I said, well, it's good to have so many doctors, right? Not without a doubt, but without quality, that's very dangerous. It's multiplying the problem. The rapporteur, senator Marcos Rogério, from the PL of Rondônia, cited data from the Panel "X-ray of Medical Schools in Brazil" that show that 71% of the vacancies in medical courses in the country are in places that do not meet the minimum infrastructure necessary to guarantee the adequate training of future professionals. The National Proficiency Exam in Medicine is a valid and reliable instrument, adopted in dozens of countries and particularly useful for certifying the minimum conditions necessary for professional performance. In this way, the exam can contribute to the quality of medical care and to the safety of patients, especially those who depend on an efficient public service, that is, the most vulnerable and needy. The rapporteur for the exam in the area of ​​dentistry, Senator Professora Dorinha Seabra, from União do Tocantins, highlighted that the proposal seeks to improve the training of professionals and ensure the provision of services with technical and ethical competence. I understand that the exam is an important tool for the exercise of the profession and, at the same time, it can be an instrument aimed at educational institutions, always seeking to improve the quality of training and, obviously, the service provided to Brazilian citizens. The two projects will still be analyzed by the Committee on Social Affairs. From Rádio Senado, Pedro Pincer.