Government aims to ensure Portugal’s summertime rosters
With the majority of the country’s health service doctors already close to completing the statutory number of overtime hours per year, the government has authorised hospitals a 40% increase in the maximum hourly rate that can be paid for the ‘aquisition of medical services’ (ie agency doctors and nurses).
According to an order delegating powers published in State gazette Diário da República, the highest bodies of the establishments and services integrated in the State health Service (SNS) may, “in duly substantiated exceptional situations” apply a higher hourly rate, up to a limit of 40%.
Público newspaper reports that in addition to this authorisation to increase the hourly rate, the Ministry of Health and task force preparing this year’s summer plan “have asked all health units for emergency room schedules until at least the end of September to anticipate any problems with a lack of doctors”.
The aim is to head-off (another) problematic summer, of the kind the country has become used to.
Not so long ago, the director general of health actually warned citizens “not to become ill in August”, because the health service was in a precarious condition during this popular month for people taking their holidays…
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
