MP says fundamental decisions cannot be delayed any longer
Cristóvão Norte, Algarve MP and vice-president of the PSD parliamentary group, has called for the region’s health sector to be considered a “national priority.”
Norte met recently with Portugal’s new Health Minister, Ana Paula Martins, to discuss the main challenges that the Algarve’s SNS (national health service) faces.
“I confirmed that the Minister knows the situation well and knows the demanding and very complex job task that the Algarve faces but understands how important it is to not delay fundamental decisions for the region any longer,” said Norte in a statement.
While he said he is hopeful because he considers the minister “someone who is very competent,” the MP warned that the Algarve’s current situation “is very bad and cannot be solved from one day to another.”
From a lack of family doctors and specialists to services which are facing “complete operational failure”, Norte warns that access to public health care in the Algarve has worsened over the last few years.
“The new (central) hospital project has to move forward quickly, in a public-private partnership regime, because it is the only way to hire doctors who are fleeing to the private sector,” said Norte.
The MP also stressed the importance of implementing an emergency programme to cut down on the waiting lists for appointments, surgeries and exams, pointing out that around 15,000 citizens in the Algarve have seen the maximum waiting time exceeded, with some waiting more than three years for an appointment.
“But this is just the beginning. There is a lot to do to have an SNS that provides the minimum response.”
