Factores de evasão e estratégias de retenção de médicos no Hospital Central de Maputo durante a pandemia da Covid-19 (2019–2023)

Abstract

The phenomenon of doctors leaving public hospitals in Mozambique, worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a central challenge for maintaining the quality and continuity of health services. This departure of professionals from their sectors has direct impacts both on the care provided to the population and on the working environment of those who remain. However, the reasons for such departures are diverse, depending on the sectoral context. In this regard, the present research aims to analyze the determining factors of doctors leaving the Central Hospital of Maputo during the COVID-19 period. To address this objective, a mixed-method approach and semi-structured interviews with staff and inactive doctors were chosen. Regarding the results, they reveal that one of the factors driving this departure is career stagnation, less competitive salaries, and lack of institutional recognition. It is concluded that the departure of doctors during the research period is caused due to conjunctural challenges and historical weaknesses in human resource management. To build stable and committed teams, it is essential that retention strategies go beyond temporary and emergency measures, incorporating institutional appreciation policies, the revision of career plans, and the continuous improvement of working conditions