Health professionals are at their wits’ end over “delays in the launch of a new Family Health Unit (USF)”; Portimão council was “completely taken by surprise”, says “these things take time”
An “imminent health crisis” in Portimão could see around 12,500 people lose their family doctor as health professionals threaten to leave the local health centre due to alleged delays in the opening of a new Family Health Unit (USF).
The Resident has been told by health professionals from the Algarve’s Local Health Unit (ULS Algarve) that the required medical team of doctors and nurses was assembled a year ago, paving the way for the opening of the new unit. However, the unit has yet to open due to the lack of minor upgrades – estimated to cost under €5,000, the health professional say – that are the responsibility of the municipal council of Portimão, which is being accused of “inaction and disinterest.”
Despite repeated requests over the past year, the required work has not been carried out, the health professionals say. They now warn that the “continued inaction” could lead the team to abandon the project entirely, potentially leaving thousands without access to a primary care.
If the situation isn’t resolved soon, these 12,500 patients will join the growing number of Portimão residents already living without a designated family doctor, further straining the local healthcare system, they add.
The Resident has contacted Portimão council, which says it was “completely taken by surprise” by the situation.
“We had no knowledge of this discontent,” council spokesperson Pedro Poucochinho told us, adding that the council is doing “everything in its power” to open the new unit as quickly as possible.
“These things take time. No one is standing around with their arms folded. The council received these new responsibilities relating to healthcare very recently, there are tenders and procedures that have to be launched and which take time,” the spokesperson said.
While he could not commit to a deadline for the opening of the new unit, Poucochinho said that the procedures are entering the “final stretch”.
“We cannot hire services the same way as the private sector does. There are rules and procedures that have to be followed,” he insisted.
According to the council source, the opening of the new USF is awaiting the signing of a rental contract for an old mortuary building, just a stone’s throw away from the current health centre and owned by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Portimão.
“We were lucky enough to find this nearby building which wasn’t being used,” said Poucochinho, adding that the rental contract for the building is due to be discussed in the next council meeting, scheduled for next week, which would allow the relocation of certain health centre services, paving the way for the opening of the long-awaited USF.
While the council is concerned about the potential departure of these health professionals, he again insisted that “these things take their due time”.
“It would be great news if we could announce the opening of the new USF unit soon. But we have to do things correctly,” he added.
However, this explanation has failed to convince health professionals, who insist that all they need for the new USF to open is the installation of air-conditioning, sinks and medical benches at the current health centre building.
Updated on May 2.
