Family medicine advocacy group seeks a remedy for reductions in pension benefits for family physicians
In March, a batch of 200 General and Family Medicine doctors penned a letter to the Ministry of Health, a copy of which the FNAM received, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the organization and functioning of Family Health Units (USF) in the calculation of weighted units (UP) and the Team Performance Index (IDE) for their retirement pensions.
These medical professionals argue that this situation cultivates inequalities among doctors fully committed to the National Health Service (SNS), as UP and IDE are categorized as auxiliary remuneration. Consequently, this remuneration is not being factored into the base remuneration despite being a constituent part of the monthly salary of USF doctors and should be paid as a fixed annual value, distributed 14 times a year, with deductions for the General Social Security Fund (CGA).
The FNAM hasn't responded to this letter or a subsequent complaint filed by the union structure, leading them to issue a "sharp and urgent" response today, denouncing the "scandalous reductions in the pensions of family doctors who are retiring, particularly those who opted for complete dedication to the SNS."
"Two months after sounding the alarm, the indifference of the competent bodies is unacceptable. Faced with this disregard and transparency, the FNAM has rallied the Legal Departments of its unions to activate all legal provisions, ensuring that no doctor is undeservedly penalized because of someone else's errors," the structure declares in a statement released today.
The FNAM views the absence of measures to protect the rights of these professionals as "another glaring example of disrespect for those who serve the SNS with unwavering dedication."
In the complaint, the FNAM demands "an immediate meeting" with the Board of Directors of the General Social Security Fund to "clarify this situation and restore legality."
"We will not accept that doctors who devoted everything to the SNS now have their rights trampled upon at retirement. We will not back down until this injustice is rectified," the FNAM declares.
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Insight: While there's no recent info on the current dispute or legal standing of this issue between Brazilian Family Doctors and the Ministry of Health regarding pension calculations for doctors working in Family Health Units (USF/ESF), ongoing debates and protests involving pensions in Latin America are prevalent [1][3][5]. Issues related to Brazilian healthcare and labor law systems also persist, but specific updates on this specific dispute or changes to pension policies involving Family Health Unit doctors have not been reported in the search results [1][3][5].
- "The medical professionals working within the SNS, particularly those dedicated to Family Health Units (USF), are advocating for inclusion of their fitness-and-exercise contributions, Team Performance Index (IDE), and health-and-wellness programs in their base remuneration, aiming for a fairer workplace-wellness environment."
- "The Science behind the calculation of pensions for USF doctors, including mental-health programs, is currently under question by the Family Doctors' National Union (FNAM), who demand a meeting with the General Social Security Fund's Board of Directors, aiming to restore the legality and rectify an alleged injustice."
- "The FNAM is taking legal actions to ensure that their SNS colleagues who are retiring are not unfairly penalized due to systemic errors, advocating for overall improvements in the well-being and fitness-and-exercise standards, as well as mental-health support, within the health-and-wellness programs for all healthcare professionals."
