The doctors association in Portugal (Ordem dos Médicos) is “following negotiations between the unions and the Ministry of Health, which have been going on since last year, with immense apprehension”, with the survival of the SNS (State health system) said to be at stake.
President of the Ordem dos Médicos, Carlos Cortes, has said Cortes, the reality of the government’s current strategy is that “instead of actually recognising the importance of doctors, of creating mechanisms here that can attract and retain these doctors, what we see is once again more of the same…"
“What’s at stake here is the survival of the national health service”. The service won’t survive with only investments in infrastructure and technological means, “which are obviously very important - the greatest value is its professionals."
“In this specific case, it’s its doctors, so we need to invest in doctors, providing adequate pay, but also investing in working conditions, so that doctors can concretely treat their patients, treat those who need healthcare,” he stressed.
In Carlos Cortes’ mindset the SNS “needs to be revitalised in terms of conditions to attract doctors”, given the difficulties it currently has in terms of human resources.
All the government has come up with so far is offering doctors a pay rise of €917.10. But, this rise is only offered IF doctors commit to what the government calls its ‘full dedication regime’, which syndicates claim removes doctors’ rights, and puts the safety of patients at risk.
Doctors’ unions and the Ministry of Health held a negotiating meeting on Thursday, which again ended without agreement.
SIM, the Independent Doctors’ Union (SIM) is maintaining strikes scheduled for this month, while FNAM, the National Federation of Doctors has considered the “across-the-board pay increase of 3.6% an insult to the entire profession”.
Yesterday, Minister of Health Manuel Pizarro “expressed surprise” that it had not been possible to reach an agreement, hoping for “a rapprochement of positions”.
These negotiations began in 2022, so this is very much an ongoing issue.
The next negotiating meeting, which according to the government will be “the last”, has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 12th.
Source Lusa
