The Algarve’s Regional Health Administration (ARS) today claimed that the Ministry of Health has in the past three years paid special attention to the Algarve region to strengthen and improve the responsiveness of health care.
Last weekend’s demonstrations outside Portimão and Faro hospitals by a newly formed citizens’ movement aimed to highlight the decline in services and the shambolic management of the public health services in the Algarve and demanded the resignation of the Hospitals of the Algarve Administrator (CHA), Dr Pedro Nunes and for good measure the resignation of the Health Minister himself.
The Board of Directors of ARS Algarve today issued a press release to counter claims of degradation and disinvestment in the Algarve's publlic hospitals - "The Ministry of Health over the past three years has been giving special attention to the Algarve so as to enhance and improve the responsiveness of health care in the region."
In the press release, ARS Algarve noted that the creation of the Hospitals of the Algarve (CHA) in May 2013 had strengthened the medical work undertaken at these hospitals (Faro, Portimão and Lagos), "intending to promote synergies between them, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the human resources available in the region, notwithstanding the users’ accessibility to health care quality."
The ARS added that it had taken note of the letter signed by the Algarve’s doctors and had used it powers to act as a mediator to promote dialogue between both parties. In this respect it has failed as the management situation is at an all time low, characterised by a lack of communication and poor leadership.
The petition referred to was signed by 182 doctors and made allegations of delays in scheduled operations for want of materials and medicines.
