The University Hospital Center of the Algarve (CHUA) has been doing "unsurpassed work" in the fight against the pandemic, namely by "being one of the biggest recipients of patients from other parts of the country", said this Monday, February 1st, the secretary of State and Health, on a visit to the Hospital of Faro.
António Lacerda Sales spent this afternoon in the region, where he visited hospitals in Faro and from Portimão, as well as the CHUA Arena.
This initiative, he explained to journalists, in Faro, served to «present to the Board of Directors of CHUA the gratitude for the fact that the Algarve is one of the biggest recipients of patients from other parts of the country».
«The work of CHUA in Faro, in Portimão and in the field hospital. It is an extraordinary work with other hospitals in other regions», he considered.
In addition to also thanking the work «of health professionals, who are in the front line», the Deputy Secretary of State and Health stressed that, in the future, if necessary, the solidarity shown by the Algarve «will be reciprocal».
Asked by journalists about the misuse of vaccination, which has been in the news all over the country, including in the Algarve, António Lacerda Sales said that «tolerance is zero» for situations «that are unacceptable».
“When there are deviations or vaccinations that should not be given, tolerance is zero. THE task force it has given guidelines, has reinforced guidelines, so that, in the case of excess doses, there are supplementary lists, with prioritization criteria according to the vaccination plan. All deviations from vaccination will be inadmissible and will be investigated. If proven, there will be disciplinary and criminal sanctions», guaranteed the government official.
Despite these cases, Lacerda Sales considered that the «vaccination process has, in general, gone well». So far, "more than 338 doses have been administered across the country, 58 of which with a second dose."
It is true that the pressure on hospitals across the country is still great – and will continue to do so for some time -, expressed by the fact that Portugal has, in today's numbers, «an occupancy rate in the order of 94%, either in units intensive care or in ward'.
That said, the secretary of state explained to journalists that, if it is necessary to resort to European solidarity mechanisms, sending patients abroad, they “will be activated”.
“For now, we are still articulating plans – planning, creating scenarios for the worst, but hoping for the best. The mechanisms are active and we are considering the need to be precise or not”, he concluded.
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