The Algarve’s mayors and public sector doctors have agreed that the quick fix arranged by the Minister of Health Adalberto Fernandes has barely scratched the surface of the region’s healthcare crisis.
While the Ministry of Health has taken some measures these now are viewed as transitory with a lack of doctors and medical staff in the lead up to the summer season creating foreboding within both the health sector union and the regional health authority.
The government pledged that “unacceptable difficulties” would be solved by the end of May but regional doctors and mayors are aware that offering thirty GP vacancies, bringing some doctors out of retirement, shipping orthopaedic specialists from Lisbon and Setúbal twice a week and a team of oncologists to Portimão’s Barlavento hospital twice a week, simply is not enough.
The government’s “short-term and temporary measures” were welcomed in the Algarve but it now is clear that more needs to be done.
"I accept the measures that have been taken in the short term, but am still very worried and impatient but hopefully more concrete things will be brought in," said Olhão’s Mayor António Pina.
"I do not see that it has solved anything in recent months," said Faro Mayor Rogério Bacalhau with the Doctors’ union rep João Silva Dias adding that he agreed and the problems “can’t be solved overnight.”
Bacalhau continued, saying “It is the same, the problems continue to worsen and waiting lists continue to grow."
The minister’s own deadline is up on June 1st and with his changes proving to be superficial rather than deep and long-lasting, a summer of trouble lies ahead with a continuation of the "undue hardship" that spurred him to take his initial measures.
