Angry citizens protested outside Portimão Hospital on Saturday afternoon (July 1) to demand “more health professionals and better conditions” at Algarve hospitals and health units this summer.
The demo was organised by the users’ commission of the SNS national health service and focused on complaints that the quality of medical care at Portimão Hospital has been allowed to decline.
Problems become even more evident in the summer when the region’s population skyrockets, explained protestors who told TV crews that “specialties like cardiology, neurology and psychiatry no longer exist.
“Others, like orthopaedics, ophthalmology and otolaryngology only work sometimes.”
Demonstrators added that the CHA hospital management board – which runs Portimão, Faro and Lagos hospitals – should be replaced as soon as possible.
This was confirmed months ago (click here), but the issue is in the hands of the finance ministry and so far nothing has moved forwards.
