“This budget once again prioritizes the continuous recovery of surgeries and healthcare services,” stated Madeira’s Secretary Micaela Freitas during the detailed discussion of the Regional Budget and Investment Plan at Madeira’s Legislative Assembly.
The official further added that the proposal “favors an increasing coordination between public, contracted, private, and social units through contributions and agreements that ensure a more adequate and swift response to the needs of the population.”
Micaela Freitas also highlighted “the investment in career enhancement, training, promotions, and the initiation of recruitment procedures for different professional groups working in health.”
Emphasizing that the allocation of this Secretariat is “the second largest component of the Autonomous Region of Madeira’s Budget,” she underscored that “health and civil protection continue to be major banners of regional autonomy and a model in the country.”
“But more and better needs to be done,” she added, arguing that “statistics do not feed anyone or cure the sick.”
In this regard, she recalled that in 2024, “record numbers were achieved in surgeries, consultations, and exams performed in the Regional Health Service.”
According to the official, last year, there was an increase of 3,000 surgeries, reaching 18,000, with an average of 50 acts per day.
This “allowed reducing the number of patients on waiting lists,” with 322,000 specialty consultations held (18,000 more than the previous year) and 285,000 complementary diagnostic acts and imaging exams (50,000 more compared to those conducted in 2023).
She also highlighted the 100% coverage of family doctors, continuous investment in screenings, and the expansion and improvement of the Integrated Continued Care Network, representing an investment of 60 million euros in the 2025 budget.
She further emphasized investment in mental health slots, the acquisition of medicines and materials (180 million euros), and support to families in the context of birth and healthcare (6.8 million euros).
In the area of Civil Protection, the secretary noted that there is a planned increase in support for Humanitarian Volunteer Firefighters Associations, including increases aligned with the salary update of municipal firefighters and an increase in operational staff, involving an amount of 5.7 million euros, along with 1.2 million euros for the renovation of barracks and 900,000 euros for personal protective equipment for fighting forest fires.
The budget also allocates 4.8 million euros for the year-round presence of aerial and ground firefighting resources and highlights the continuation of the new Central and University Hospital project.
During the debate, JPP deputy Lina Pereira warned of the continuous growth of waiting lists during the PSD governments led by Miguel Albuquerque since 2015, noting they peaked in 2024, and sought details on how the use of the private sector planned in the Budget will be implemented.
Meanwhile, PS deputy Marta Freitas accused the executive of using “illusion” with health figures and deemed the increase in the sector’s budget as “insignificant.”
The Socialist Party’s bench also warned of the increase in waiting lists, considering that the regional health system (Sesaram) fails in response and prevention.
For Chega, Hugo Nunes inquired why the remuneration increase for doctors planned in the surgery recovery program is not also applied to nurses and diagnostic and therapeutic technicians.
The deputy also questioned the regional secretary about the recurring shortage of medications in the hospital pharmacy, particularly in the oncology area.
Iniciativa Liberal’s sole deputy, Gonçalo Maia Camelo, advocated for the use of the private sector but warned that “pouring new money on old problems does not solve the situation.”
In response, the official explained that the use of the private sector will be executed at the regional level and also outside the region whenever Sesaram exhausts its response capacity and refuted the accusation of “illusion” in health, noting that there is an increase of 70 million euros compared to the 2024 Budget.
Micaela Freitas also emphasized that the opposition always highlights the numbers related to waiting lists but never addresses the production lists, stressing that Sesaram performs seven times more medical acts than the number of people on waiting lists.
“We have more and more diagnostic capacity,” she said, emphasizing that the number of users has also increased, with about six thousand foreigners already registered in the Regional Health Service.
Regarding the remuneration increase in the surgery recovery program, the official clarified that it covers all professionals and not just doctors.
Micaela Freitas further noted that Sesaram invested 65 million euros in medications in 2024.
The Regional Budget (2.533 billion euros) and Investment Plan (1.044 billion euros) for 2025 were approved on Monday in Madeira’s Parliament with the favorable votes of the PSD/CDS majority and the abstention of all opposition parties (JPP, PS, Chega, and IL).
The detailed debate takes place today, Wednesday, and Friday, the day of the final global vote.
