The Portuguese national health system is being “disfigured” by cuts that have left the health services in tatters, Bloco de Esquerda (BE) coordinator João Semedo declared on Monday (February 10).
Aiming his criticism at Health Minister Paulo Macedo, he stated: “Never has the Portuguese people paid so many taxes only to have so much trouble accessing national health services in due time.”
According to Semedo, demand keeps growing but the ability to respond to the public’s needs keeps shrinking.
He specifically mentioned the case of the Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde hospital authority, enveloped – like the Algarve – in heated controversy.
“Where there should be investments, there are cutbacks,” Semedo said. “These are two hospitals threatened with having their services transferred.” A move he claimed would affect 140,000 people from two towns.
Instead, the BE coordinator insisted Paulo Macedo should be reinforcing the health service. “We want a universal service, paid by and at the disposal of everyone. We do not want a miniature version or a caricature of the national health service”.
Photo: Health minister Paulo Macedo
