A bill filed in the Chamber of Deputies aims to halt the departure of highly qualified doctors from the public sector, lured by better conditions in the private sector or abroad. The initiative, presented by Deputy Arturo Urbieta (ANR-HC), creates the national incentive program for medical professionals with subspecialties in the public health system.
The text is structured around two pillars. The first establishes a scientific updating fund that grants paid leave of up to 30 days per year for conferences, internships, or international rotations, in addition to covering travel and per diem expenses for presenting scientific papers abroad. The second pillar sets a permanent monthly bonus equivalent to one minimum wage, applicable to a single position per professional.
To access the benefits, doctors must hold subspecialty certification or recertification and a valid professional registration issued by the Ministry of Public Health. The health ministry will be responsible for maintaining an updated list of these professionals.
If approved, the law will cover those providing services at the Ministry of Public Health, the Social Insurance Institute (IPS), the UNA Clinical Hospital, and the Armed Forces and Police Health Service. Funding will be included in the National General Budget of each institution, and the Executive Branch will have 90 days to regulate the law after its eventual enactment.
The bill was referred for review to several Chamber committees, including Economic and Financial Affairs, Legislation and Codification, Justice, Labor and Social Security, Human Rights, Public Health, and Budget. Despite the goal of valuing specialists, doubts remain about the measure's effectiveness given the recurring budget constraints that often turn such laws into dead letters.