The President of the Association of Cape Verdean Doctors in the United States, Dr Júlio Teixeira, has called for greater investment in specialist medical training within Cape Verde, warning that dependence on foreign professionals is unsustainable.
Speaking to journalists at the conclusion of a pre-symposium on postgraduate clinical training, Dr Teixeira said the country’s healthcare system continues to suffer from a chronic shortage of qualified human resources.
He stressed the importance of building domestic capacity, arguing that Cape Verde must reduce its reliance on foreign professionals, particularly those from Cuba and other nations.
“This is the only way to ensure sustainability in the sector and to maintain the continuous development of national professionals,” he said, pointing out that many existing specialists will reach retirement age in the next 10 to 15 years, creating an urgent need for a new generation of experts.
He challenged the outdated belief that a general practitioner can meet all healthcare needs.
“Today, a doctor must specialise—and often even sub-specialise—because patient demands are increasing, and Cape Verde must adapt to its population’s needs,” he added.
Dr Teixeira expressed his full commitment to supporting Cape Verde in this effort and highlighted the untapped potential of the diaspora.
Many Cape Verdean professionals abroad, he noted, are already involved in specialist training in countries like the United States and are willing to contribute to capacity building at home.
He also urged Cape Verdean authorities to foster a welcoming environment for diaspora professionals by recognising their value and integrating them into national development initiatives.
“For example, if someone is a professor at Harvard University—and we have Cape Verdeans who are teaching medicine there—there’s no reason they shouldn’t also teach at the University of Cape Verde,” he said.
Dr Teixeira emphasized the need to facilitate medical license recognition for diaspora professionals, using Boston as an example.
“If someone is licensed to practice medicine in Boston, we must find ways to validate that license in Cape Verde,” he said.
This, he argued, would encourage more diaspora engagement in the national health system.
He further called for a reassessment of Cape Verde’s socio-economic model to better attract health professionals living abroad.
“To create the right conditions and incentives for doctors in the diaspora—whether in Portugal, Brazil, or elsewhere—to return to Cape Verde, we need an economic model that competes globally.
Other countries also need professionals and are recruiting ours, so we must stay competitive,” he warned.
Speaking ahead of a Friday symposium in Praia focused on the integration of robotics and artificial intelligence in healthcare, Dr Teixeira urged Cape Verde to leapfrog traditional development stages and embrace cutting-edge technologies.
“Despite limited resources, it’s vital to nurture curiosity and a drive for innovation among our professionals,” he said.
“The more intellectually stimulated we are, the more motivated we become to engage in these new practices.”
The event was hosted by the Cape Verdean Medical Association (OMC) and brought together doctors, researchers, tech experts, and healthcare professionals to explore the future of medicine in the archipelago.
