The administration of vaccines from the National Vaccination Plan, namely tetanus and HPV, is experiencing problems at the Monchique Health Center, due to delays in the supply of vaccines by the pharmacy in Faro, denounces the Municipality of the Monchiquense PCP.
The Monchique communists add that, in relation to the HPV vaccine (human papilloma virus, responsible for situations that can develop into cancer – eg cervical cancer), “there have been delays since 2011, with currently around 40 young people per vaccinate'.
On the other hand, «there has been a lack of consumable material, such as sutures or gloves, while the «Monchique Family Health Unit has recently ceased to function».
They also denounced that the Permanent Care Service (SAP), "which no longer works at night, now also has no service before 14:00, because doctors prefer General and Family Medicine consultations, which are in the morning."
Another deficiency detected by the PCP at the Monchique Health Center is that the «air conditioning in the Aerosols room is out of order, sometimes leading to the need to move users to other rooms, because of the temperature».
In addition, there have been irregularities in the functioning of the Alferce extension, “since consultations are now every 15 days, and sometimes the doctor does not appear, leaving Alferce's users without the provision of health care”.
In relation to the installations, the two extensions of the CS in Monchique – Alferce and Marmelete -, need, in the opinion of the communists, “works urgently, in order to guarantee minimum conditions of service to users”.
In the CS of Monchique, there are also «several rooms for physiotherapy treatment, however there is only one Physiotherapist, and which currently has reduced hours, due to breastfeeding leave».
But, according to the Municipal Committee of the Monchiquense PCP, there are other more general issues that also affect the provision of health care to the population of that municipality.
Thus, they add, the Shared Assistance Resources Unit of the Grouping of Health Centers (ACES) Barlavento "does not have adequate human resources", since there are no, for example, "psychiatrists or child psychiatrists, with users being referred to hospitals from Portimão and Faro or to Hospital Dona Estefânia, in Lisbon. Nor does it have a dentist or dentist».
The ACES Barlavento Personalized Health Care Units do not have adequate human resources either.
«The table foresees 95 doctors, but the Personalized Health Care Units only have 84, of which 8 do not have a specialty in general and family medicine recognized in Portugal and 18 are hired through private temporary work companies».
«The shortage of doctors translates, in particular, into the fact that 53% of ACES Barlavento users do not have a family doctor. The situation is particularly serious in the municipalities of Lagos, Silves, Vila do Bispo and Portimão, where 78%, 55%, 54% and 51% of users do not have a family doctor, respectively».
As for the technical assistants, says the PCP, “the staff foresees 113 professionals, however only 87 are in the service. There are 72 operational assistants, out of a table of 112. For these categories there is no government authorization to open tenders».
With regard to nurses, diagnostic and therapeutic technicians and senior technicians, the tables are not filled either.
The Monchique PCP also adds that there are "serious problems with regard to referral for outpatient consultations at the Hospital de Portimão (reference hospital of the health centers of ACES Barlavento), with a total lack of response in some specialties and waiting times excessive in other specialties (may reach several years), with serious consequences in terms of the quality of health care provided to populations».
The specialties with problems in scheduling outpatient appointments at the Hospital de Portimão are in particular «cardiology, urology, gynecology and neurology».
Finally, “the ACES Barlavento Community Council did not meet once in 2013”.
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