Miguel Freitas was on top form as he submitted questions in Parliament to the Health Minister over the state of the Algarve’s healthcare service, particularly its management.
He wondered if the Minister of Health “considers the position of AMAL (the Algarve mayors’ association) as irrelevant, will the inspection requested by the Portuguese Medical Council go ahead and, more importantly, does he remain confident in the Council of administration for the Hospitals of the Algarve? "
Socialist MP Freitas (pictured) believes that there now is an intolerable situation between the Board of Directors of the Hospitals of the Algarve, and the doctors that work there.
Public statements by both parties, and comments by bodies such as AMAL and the Medical Council, have fuelled this battle with Pedro Nunes saying this weekend that he is more determined than ever to continue in his role as Director, despite widespread condemnation of his overbearing methods and management abilities.
Algarve MP Freitas said it is "vital to have some concrete action from the Minister of Health," adding that "these incidents indicate a massive failure by the management to mobilise forces for the implementation of the new organisational model."
The Parliamentary Group of the Socialist Party questioned the Health Minister on 22 January who said back then that he would find out more about the situation.
"Given all this, when action is required, there is a strange total silence and complacency from the Minister of Health, Dr. Paulo Macedo, about the inappropriate behavior of the President of the Board of Directors of the Hospitals of the Algarve and his indifference to the events that have damaged the interests of the region and the quality of health services in the Algarve,” said Freitas.
"Healthcare in the Algarve has never until now been a political battle. There have been more than a dozen boards of directors over the past 30 years without a situation like the current one," added Freitas.
