Heathcare in the Algarve is just fine, according to those charged with managing the region’s hospitals and health centres but the Parliamentary Group of the Communist party has presented a draft resolution to Parliament outlining the dire reality.
This resolution will be debated and voted on later this week and includes a "dramatic portrayal of the degradation of primary health care in the Algarve” and presents a set of recommendations to the Government to ensure the provision of quality health care to the region’s population.
The Communists recommend the planning and implementation of a network of primary care health outreach outposts in the Algarve region, more financial and technical resources, recruitment of 342 health professionals and improvement of working conditions for healthcare professionals, among other improvements.
The Communists also propose the elimination of job insecurity, the creation of a system of awarding incentives to retain health professionals in the Algarve region, the allocation of family doctor to all users enrolled in the region’s health centers, and the promotion of adequate coordination between primary care and hospital care.
Another recommendation is for the adoption of the measures necessary to ensure an end to the problem of a chronic lack of clinical materials and medicines in health centers and hospitals, as well as the modernisation of the computer system that serves the Algarve.
The debate inevitably will involve counterclaims from the Ministry of Health which spends much time and effort in claiming that all is well in the Algarve with a sound regional management and hospitals’ director Dr Pedro Nunes.
Maybe this time those debating these issues later this week will be able step away from party-line politics and address the real issues in the Algarve region and suggest some sensible and much needed reforms.
