According to the vice president of Sinmea, Domingas Matos, the hiring of Cuban doctors was justified by the Government with the situation of the covid-19 pandemic and the problems that hospitals face.
"The surprise is that, according to reports from colleagues who are in the places where the doctors were allocated, they say that they are not working for what they came to do. Many are doing administrative work and others are adapting," he said.
Domingas Matos stressed that the Government justified that expatriate doctors were recruited to train national staff.
"How is it possible that whoever came to train at this point is adapting, would not be already training instead of being trained, is there even a need to bring doctors to train us, when in fact they end up gaining experience here?”, questioned.
"We want doctors in hospitals, we want a business, what do we want?", He continued, also questioning the need to "spend millions importing those who come to do administrative work".
The unionist complained that the Government is able to pay foreign doctors, but nationals, many of whom failed the public exam, calls for volunteering.
"So they are good for work, that has already been made clear, but only as volunteers, they are not good for receiving a salary for the work they do", he stressed.
According to the official, they appeal to the "sensitivity, patriotism, love and oath of doctors, and that has been what doctors have done.
"Yes, we take an oath and we have been complying, patriotism exists, until now the Angolan doctor lives on that - patriotism, love of neighbor, altruism and nothing more. I wonder, how long will we live on this?" .
Domingas Matos said that the excuse of the economic crisis is not a justification, as was now approved with the covid-19 pandemic.
"We looked at this situation of the new coronavirus, money for a lot of things appeared, to raise and equip hospitals in less than a month, money to hire outside professionals, money to buy even over-billed condominiums, after all, the money exists, only lack is really desire ", he stressed.
In turn, the president of Sinmea, Adriano Esteves, said that in a meeting he had with the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta said that it was interesting for new doctors to enter, so that Cuban general practitioners could return to their country, "but it is do the opposite ".
"We are not against the coming of foreign doctors, that is the idea that a certain public press makes it pass, it is not possible, because even with the Angolan doctors who are training now we are still few to cover the deficit, we will need expatriate doctors the same, "he said.
The costs for hiring Cuban medical specialists for medical assistance in Angola and training of national professionals, amount to US $ 79.3 million.
