Data obtained through the survey published on the Linkedin, Instagram and Twitter profiles of Redacción Médica.
Where is medical retirement limit? The proposal of prolong work activity of the doctors beyond 65 years carried out by the Government with its plan of active retirement It has not been well received by the health sector. In a survey carried out through the social networks of Medical Writingthe general opinion has been once morest this initiative since they consider that at that age the physicians they have earned their break In addition to considering that the physical abilities falter and they can be a off-side for the exercise of care work.
In this query, the 65 percent of the participants has clearly shown a favorcon more than 1,000 votesthat the retirement age occurs before the age of 65.
However, others believe that it is a good option to offer the possibility of voluntarily extending the work activity beyond the appropriate age for termination. A) Yes, more than 500 people (and 30 per cent) have voted in this poll in favor of doctors from Primary Care can prolong their working life between 65 and 72 years.
In turn, very few (only a 5 percent) believe that it is a good option to offer the possibility of continuing working to physicians who exceed 72 years.
The judgment of a 65-year-old doctor
In their responses, respondents have justified their decision by indicating that they would not trust the medical judgment of a physician over 65 years of age depending on the clinical practice you perform. “I believe that it would be necessary to spend a aptitude test“, exposes a doctor. In this same sense, another of the participants affirms that for a specialist to prolong his work activity, “he should be valued by a court.”
Most of the answers point out that one of the conditions for accepting or not accepting that a doctor works in Primary Care beyond the age of 65 its modernization should be an essential requirement. “If you continue updating knowledgeI don’t see a difference with another of a lower age”, explains a doctor. However, other respondents believe that this, which should be common throughout the entire career of a specialist, does not happen and that, therefore, ” probably are outdated“. They also point out that “no matter how much experience you have, you always end up falling into outdated therapies“.
On the other hand, there are many who refer to the physical abilities that are lost with age. “Faculties and abilities are lost and we work with health and patients life“, they expose. That is why they believe that extending working life in health centers should “depend on psychological state and, above all, the fatigue” of each doctor. Consequently, these more experienced doctors in the clinical assistance they would be, according to one respondent, useful as a “consultant, not as a person responsible for the patient”.
Retirement: time to step aside
The same perception is held by doctors who are already in the stage of retirement. Julian Ezquerra, retired at the beginning of 2022, told this newspaper that it is necessary to step aside and make way for the new generations. Opinion contrary to what he pointed out Jose Ramon Repulloretired in September 2022, who pointed out that “the group of doctors between the ages of 60 and 70 have a lot to contribute in health centers, putting their clinical judgment at the service of the new generation of doctors”.
Both agreed when stating, in statements to this newspaper, that “being at the foot of the canyon in consultations, with more than 40 people waiting to see you, tires and requires physical effort that is lost with age.”
Thus, the Government’s proposal to implement active retirement to try to appease the lack of professionals in Primary Care It has not finished permeating among the doctors. The family doctors believe that the measure of active retirement is nothing more than “a patch” that does not provide a solution to the real problem of sanitary deficit faced by the National Health System (SNS). lengthen the retirement age beyond the age of 65 is not an option that seems reasonable in the sector.
Although it may contain statements, data or notes from health institutions or professionals, the information contained in Redacción Médica is edited and prepared by journalists. We recommend to the reader that any health-related questions be consulted with a health professional.
