The 43rd National Congress of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI) brings together more than 2,300 internists Spaniards from all over the country from November 23 to 25. The objective is to debate the present and future of the specialty. However, there are challenges that are of particular concern to internists, among others, the lack of generational renewal of the specialty.
José María Fernández Rodríguez, president of SAMIN and executive president of the Organizing and Scientific Committees, has reiterated that Internal Medicine is more essential than ever. Specifically, to face the challenge that chronicity already represents for the health system. “Internists work under the principle that no disease or clinical problem is beyond our concern or responsibility.”
The Congress has 37 round tables, 5 debates, 14 workshops, 10 updating sessions, 15 meetings with the expert and 17 oral communications presentation sessions, among others, such as the student’s followingnoon and the resident’s followingnoon, poster exhibition scientists (22), or the opening and closing conferences; the awards ceremony, and a session dedicated to the 70th Anniversary of SEMI (1952-2022), as well as 8 satellite symposiums.
Lack of generational relief in Internal Medicine
In the presentation of the Congress, the need for more resources and more general specialists. These are the ones with transversal skills and an integrating vision of all the pathologies and comorbidities of the sick person. For this, it is necessary to address with guarantees the lack of generational relief in the specialty. but also the problem of the coverage of places of doctors specialized in Internal Medicine, which is evident in many territories of the country.
However, the National Health System is currently facing numerous challenges. For a large part of them Internal Medicine can be “a great ally”. It should be remembered that, according to the data from the RECALMIN 2021 survey, 64 percent of acute care hospitals have a palliative care unit; 56 percent a home hospitalization unit; 32 percent a short stay unit and 23 percent a rapid diagnosis unit. In all cases the participation of internists is very important. 64 percent of Internal Medicine services have a Complex Chronic Patient Care Unit.
Jesús Díez Manglano, president of SEMI, concluded that “hospitals are more prepared for acute pathology than for chronicity.” This is a challenge in which “Internal Medicine has a lot to contribute”.
