Need for Primary Care pediatricians. Pediatric vacancies in primary care and the need for specific training in this area of competence

Introduction: there is a deficit of primary care pediatricians, already reported by primary care pediatric societies in recent years. The objective of this analysis is to know the existing primary care pediatric positions, not covered by pediatricians, the positions that need to be created due to excessive quotas and the way in which a greater number of residents can be channeled to Primary Care.

Method: analysis of the data of places with an excess of population assigned (more than 1,251 children/pediatrician), based on data of Health Ministry (2018) and of places not covered by pediatric specialists and of the professional opportunities of residents based on published studies of the Spanish Association of Primary Care Pediatrics (2017-2018).

Results: there are 1665 Pediatric places not occupied by pediatricians and 792 that should be created to split the quotas of more than 1251 children/pediatrician, making a total of 2457 places. 30% of pediatric residents who complete their pediatric specialty go on to Primary Care, while 60% of pediatric places are in Primary Care. During the residence period only 6% of the training takes place in primary care.

Conclusions: the aim is to ensure that all existing and required primary care pediatric positions are attended by pediatricians. It is necessary to orient the majority of Pediatric residents towards Primary Care, and the rotation time through these units should also be increased.