Santa Cecília University and medical education in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region – rationale for a new medical course: comparative study of the number of medical schools with three other metropolitan regions of the State of São Paulo. Hermes Toros Xavier

Abstract

Demographic data on healthcare in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region (RMBS), provided by the Unified Health System (SUS), indicate the need to train healthcare professionals and doctors with the skills and competencies needed to implement solutions and improve care provided to the community – the focus of the actions and commitment of Universidade Santa Cecília (Unisanta). To compare the number of medical schools and places offered in medical courses in the RMBS with those in the metropolitan regions of Greater São Paulo – which includes Greater ABC, Campinas and Ribeirão Preto – in order to determine the parameters to be adopted to define the number of places to be offered in the Unisanta Medical Course currently proposed to the Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC).

We analyzed population demographic data, the number of physicians per 1,000 inhabitants, the number of medical schools in operation and the number of vacancies offered in medical courses in the metropolitan regions of São Paulo, including Greater São Paulo, including Greater ABC, Campinas and Ribeirão Preto, compared to data from the RMBS, aiming to define the number of vacancies to be offered in the Unisanta Medical Course. The state of São Paulo, with approximately 150 thousand physicians registered with the Regional Medical Council, has an average rate of 3.5 physicians for every 1,000 inhabitants. Among the regions studied, Greater São Paulo, which includes Greater ABC, has 3.18; Campinas has 2.7; Ribeirão Preto has 4.18; and Baixada Santista has 2.81 physicians for every 1,000 inhabitants. Regarding the number of medical courses and vacancies offered in 2023, we found in the Ribeirão Preto region, 4 courses and 436 vacancies; in Grande ABC, 4 courses and 618 vacancies; in the Campinas region, 7 courses and 885 vacancies; and in RMBS, 5 courses and 480 vacancies, with these courses distributed – 2 in Santos, 2 in Guarujá and 1 in Cubatão. It is in this context, taking into account the regional characteristics, that we seek parity with the metropolitan regions evaluated, in being able to offer 120 more medical vacancies for RMBS. Unisanta, understanding that access to medical care is essential for communities, with the aim of qualifying health services and training doctors focused on comprehensive care for individuals and families, working primarily in the scope of Primary Health Care, Urgencies and Emergencies, has determined to offer 120 places on the Medicine Course now proposed to the MEC, faithful to the principles established by current legislation and focused on social needs.