Ana Paula Martins recognises the shortage of human resources and guarantees a plan is being developed to ensure response and the safety of healthcare users.
Portuguese Health Minister Ana Paula Martins admitted yesterday that there is a staff shortage in the Algarve’s pre-hospital emergency services and guaranteed that “a plan is being developed to ensure the response and safety of healthcare users this summer”.
Questioned by journalists about the lack of staff at the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM). on the sidelines of the inauguration of the Algarve’s regional delegation of that institute, Martins acknowledged the lack of human resources at “various levels”. “It’s true. Things are lacking in the INEM,” she conceded.
Martins considered this to be “a pressing matter because summer is upon us. It is a worrying situation that we have to manage and resolve as quickly as possible with the region and those on the ground”, she stressed.
The minister ensured that “the president of the INEM had created a detailed memorandum outlining all the needs and requirements for additional human resources” and that she would return to the Algarve in the next few weeks “to develop a plan for the summer in collaboration with the administration and professionals of the Algarve’s Local Health Unit (ULS) and the INEM”. This plan will aim to prevent any impact on the quality of patient care during the busiest time of the year in the region, despite staff shortages and healthcare professionals taking time off.
“Now we have to look at human resources within the personnel or human resources maps within the scope of the Health Ministry to see how we can effectively address these needs”, said the Health Minister, adding that a request had been made for at least 200 technicians in February and March last year.
Ana Paula Martins also highlighted the current collaboration with the firefighters, which the ministry aims to maintain and strengthen, as it will support the ministry’s goals.
“The ULS and its board of directors have a plan on the table. Now, they need reinforcements. They need us to hire more staff to ensure coverage for medical and surgical emergencies during the summer. And that is what we will have to do with the capacity available in the Algarve”, she concluded.
