To the cheery delight of many doctors and nurses working in the Algarve’s public health service, the director of the Hospitals of the Algarve is to be replaced; Dr Pedo Nunes' four years are up and the likelihood of working happily under a Socialist administration were neglibile.
Dr Pedro Nunes, a former chairman of the Medical Association who ran the Hospitals of the Algarve group from Faro hospital, has long been criticised for his brusque management style and his ability to upset and enrage many of those working under him at Faro, Lagos and Portimão hospitals and associated clinics.
Dr Nunes was supported throughout his four year stint in the Algarve by the previous Health Minister Paulo Macedo as he pushed through spending cuts and operational changes which met almost universal opposition.
Dr Nunes commented today, "It's normal and legitimate that the government wants to have a new direction."
Since the local elections two years ago, Dr Nunes’ job was made harder by the Socialists winning the majority of local councils, many of which demanded his replacement and certainly a review of the Algarve health service which was marked by a lack of staff, medical materials and common purpose.
"Do not say that it was me who destroyed the National Health Service," said Dr Nunes, rejecting criticism that he was primarily responsible for the dismantling of the public health sector in the region.
But many did say this, and the lack of medical specialists remained the main problem for Faro and Portimão hospitals with vacancies remaining vacancies. Health Minister Macedo’s quixotic quest of “creating financial incentives and guaranteeing promotions to compel doctors to leave the big cities," was a failure as was a bizarre plan to recruit doctors from Spain despite the large salary cut involved.
Dr Nunes said that "problems are not solved with pats on the back," and many of the Algarve’s health service problems were austeirty driven from an agenda devised in Lisbon whcih excpected unpopular actions to be taken locally.
A government health committee is to visit the Algarve before the end of December. The exit of Dr Nunes will make its task notably easier as the political aspects of his position made his continuation a remote possibility with Nunes himself saying that he would be off when the government changed.
As Dr Nunes leaves he can be comforted by an award for the "transparency and rigor of procurement procedures, particularly as regards the principles of equality and competition."
The ‘Excellence in Public Administration Procurement’ award will be handed out in Lisbon on Wednesday and recognises the Hospitals of the Algarve management as one that "invited a larger number of suppliers to respond to tenders on the Vortal platform” – the electronic platform for public procurement.
Recognition for "synergies and economies of scale in reducing public spending through the centralised and efficient procurement of goods and services," is justifiable, despite early glitches which saw supplies of essential equipment and drugs disrupted.
None of these efficiencies helped Dr Nunes built a team and his aggravation of doctors to the point of mass resignation showed a management out of kilter with the collaborative approach needed to improve efficiency and attract staff.
More good news for health service users was announced today by the new Minister of Health, Dr Adalberto Campos Fernandes who says that user fees will decrease in 2016.
Users referred by the Health Line 24 or by primary care doctors will not then pay fees for emergency services in hospitals.
According to the minister, these user fees will be lower, thus respecting "the political commitment in the government programme. We honour our commitments and currently are working to make the changes," said Dr Fernandes.
"Rates are not and have never been a revenue mechanism and is important that they are balanced and proportionate to the income of citizens. We cannot have an unacceptable economic barrier for health care access."
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