«The Algarve is a laboratory for the privatization of the National Health Service». The words are from Catarina Martins, coordinator of the Bloco de Esquerda, who met this Friday, January 27, with the delegation of the Union of Doctors of the South Zone - SMZS.
According to BE, «the private offer has been increasing exponentially and the flight of doctors from the SNS has proved difficult to combat».
For Catarina Martins, who also met with ACTA on this visit to the region, «it is important to understand what happened in the Algarve, what went wrong and learn from it».
«It is urgent to create conditions to retain people. This problem is not just for health professionals, it is a problem for teachers, and other sectors that need workers», he adds.
In a press release, BE mentions some of the problems of the SNS in the region, such as the lack of human resources, the closure of the Portimão birthing block or “obsolete equipment”.
João Vasconcelos, former BE deputy, who also participated in this meeting, expressed his concern and reaffirmed that «more public investment is needed, hiring the necessary pediatricians and obstetricians, in addition to other human resources, creating incentives and valuing their careers ».
«This way, we avoid draining doctors into the private sector and unfair competition with the SNS. This is a responsibility that falls to the central power, in this specific case to the government with an absolute majority of the PS", he added.
José Gusmão, MEP and head of the list for the Algarve in the last Legislatures, left the message that «the SNS needs the commitment of the Algarve at this difficult time and that the fight will be tough».
Comments