The Government approved today, July 20, the creation of the Hospital and University Center of the Algarve (CHUA), which will bring together not only the region's hospitals, but also the Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the South (CMR Sul) and a research and connection center with the University of Algarve.
The decree-law approved today «changes the name of the Algarve Hospital Center to Algarve Hospital and University Center, in order to intensify the integration of higher education activities, research and transmission of scientific knowledge in the provision of health care, and thus , increase the quality of this care and contribute to the establishment of qualified professionals in the region».
On the other hand, it proceeds to «transfer to this Hospital the competences of the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve relating to the Center for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of the South (CMR South), in order to take advantage of synergies and ensure a more efficient use of human resources and available financial resources and obtain gains in rationality and quality».
Paulo Morgado, president of the Regional Health Administration (ARS) of the Algarve, told the Sul Informação who expects the decree-law to be published in the Diário da República "within a week or two." “These things are not overnight. First, it will still have to be promulgated by the President of the Republic and, later, it will be returned to the Prime Minister. I think that, even though we are at this point, it will take at most two weeks. The diploma enters into force the day after its publication», he said.
Once the CHUA creation is published, the current CHA Board of Directors automatically falls. According to the Público newspaper, the Government will have already decided not to reappoint the current team, led by Joaquim Ramalho, and will appoint Ana Paula Gonçalves, who was chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hospital de Faro. Number two in this structure should be occupied by Hugo Nunes, current vice-president of the Chamber of Loulé.
Paulo Morgado "neither confirms nor denies" these names, saying only that "there is still no decision" regarding the future administration of CHUA, which will be chosen by the Council of Ministers.
The creation of this new model for Algarve hospitals aims to solve the chronic problem of the lack of doctors in the Algarve, taking into account that clinicians have shown little interest in filling the many vacancies that are opened for positions in the region, competition after competition.
An idea that was explored by Health Minister Adalberto Campos Fernandes at the press conference of the Council of Ministers. For the member of the Government, the creation of CHUA will solve "all constraints" in terms of hiring human resources not only in the CMR South, but throughout the region.
The difficulty of the Algarve in attracting clinicians was, moreover, addressed by António Costa on Monday, during the inauguration of the new terminal at the Airport of Faro. "I've always been confused about how the Algarve is unable to attract doctors," said the prime minister, adding that he believes that the university dimension of CHUA will attract "doctors in search of research and training".
Paulo Morgado, on the other hand, highlighted the importance that the creation of the new structure will have for the South CMR, which will allow it to start solving its problems from the moment it becomes a hospital unit, something foreseen in the diploma now approved. On the other hand, he highlighted the fact that the academic center that will be created will also have a connection to the ARS do Algarve, something that will allow the employees of this public institute «access to research and doctoral programs at the University of Algarve, similarly to what will happen with those who work in hospitals».
«This important decision from a strategic point of view for the NHS will help to overcome the structural problems of Health in the Algarve. (…) In this process, ARS Algarve invested in dialogue with workers, with the rector of the University of Algarve, with municipal councils, with union entities and professional orders, and these hearings resulted in a generalized consensus of all workers, unions and from the entire political spectrum that constitutes a unique opportunity», affirmed today the ARS do Algarve, in a statement.
In March, Paulo Morgado revealed to the Sul Informação that, with the creation of the University Hospital Center of the Algarve (CHUA), the region once again has «two hospital units, one in Portimão/Lagos and the other in Faro, the Center for Medicine and Physical Rehabilitation of the South and a research center and connection with the University of the Algarve”, which will enjoy “great autonomy”.
"The goal is to increase the attractiveness of CHUA so that it can receive more doctors, nurses and other health technicians, and at the same time strengthen the connection to the University, namely strengthening and enhancing the medical course, in order to offer health professionals a opportunity to grow also in the research plan and in this way create a strong, attractive and dynamic hospital structure», says now the ARS do Algarve.
(Article updated at 20:20 with statements by the president of the Algarve ARS Paulo Morgado)
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