In a rare departure from the party line, Algarve Tourism chief, Desidério Silva, met the Minister of Health today to ‘raise awareness’ of the wide-ranging concerns relating to health cover in the Algarve.
This meeting results from an earlier meeting between Silva and the president of the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve, the president of the Algarve Hospitals Group and representatives from the Nurses Union at which "certain deficiencies in some services in some health units" were identified, particularly in the Algarve’s emergency service cover.
"It is understood how important it was to explain these realities to the Minister of Health, Paulo Macedo, so not only immediate solutions can be found, but ultimately structural solutions for the region," said Silva.
Algarve Tourism would "welcome a strengthening of funds" for the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve and for the Algarve Hospitals Group," with the aim of improving the services in question, essential for residents and visitors to this tourist destination."
"We are talking about a region where tourism health and wellness has been identified as a strategic product and much sought after by all tourist segments," said Silva who seeks "a health service not only for our visitors but also for residents, where welfare and health are fundamental when welcoming millions of tourists throughout the year."
At the meeting, the Minister of Health assured Silva of the existence of a set of measures and procedures that are underway, and with other planned, for the immediate hiring of doctors, nurses and assistants, in addition to basic services such as cleaning and improved hygiene, "so as significantly to improve the working conditions of health professionals throughout the region."
"As the leading tourist region in the country, the Algarve can not be subject to short-term measures, but structural ones, and that was the assurance of the Minister of Health," concluded the Tourist Board in a statement issued today.
