The Algarve’s health authority (ULS Algarve) has strongly pushed back against accusations that São Brás de Alportel’s Centre of Rehabilitation Medicine of the South (Centro de Medicina e Reabilitação do Sul, or CMR Sul) is being “destroyed”, insisting the unit “continues to be a leading unit” in rehabilitation care.
The response comes two weeks after Associação Movimento Determinante warned of what it called the “final destruction” of the centre, citing staff shortages, delayed works to the therapeutic pool and alleged cuts to patients’ support equipment.
In response to The Resident’s queries, ULS Algarve acknowledged that it has faced difficulties hiring new health professionals but argues that the problem lies in candidates declining available positions.
The health authority says it maintains an “active open vacancy policy” and is available to hire health professionals, adding that a new recruitment procedure will soon be opened for Senior Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technicians, including physiotherapists, specifically for CMR Sul.
The strongest rebuttal concerns technical aids and support equipment for patients.
“It is absolutely false and even slanderous to claim that the Board of Directors ‘decided to cut technical aids for patients’,” the health authority states.
Contrary to the association’s claims, ULS Algarve cites data from 2025 to show that the total number of support products delivered to patients across ULS Algarve was slightly higher than in 2024, with an increase of 1.7%.
The authority says it operates under multi-year procurement plans, in line with public spending rules, and acquires equipment for Faro and Portimão hospitals as well as CMR Sul. All purchases must comply with Portugal’s public contracts code, it says.
Regarding the long-delayed rehabilitation works to the therapeutic pool, ULS Algarve describes the amount raised by a private institution as “derisory” when compared to the full cost required to restore the facility with all necessary safety and quality standards.
While thanking the organisation for its gesture and fundraising efforts, the board says the amount collected “does not even cover a residual part of the total expense”.
ULS Algarve says it will present updates on the project later in 2026.
On the driving simulator, another issue raised by campaigners, ULS Algarve says the equipment is operational for internal use and for inpatients at CMR Sul, but not yet as a certified assessment method. The simulator requires technical coordination with an external certifying body before it can be used to formally assess fitness to drive. That process, the authority says, will take place “in due course”.
As for the continued use of part of the building’s second floor to accommodate patients from Faro Hospital, ULS Algarve says this was a global management decision.
It acknowledges that the arrangement “occasionally conditions” the use of staff assigned to CMR Sul and the full availability of the centre’s installed capacity. However, it argues that the measure has helped support patients with “acute medical needs”.
The authority adds that this situation will soon end, as the beds in question are to be transferred to another building in Faro.
In its response, ULS Algarve insists that CMR Sul “continues to be a reference in the area of rehabilitation” and that its care programmes “maintain the same profile”.
