In a letter addressed to the Health Minister and the Executive Board of the National Health Service (SNS) released today, the APCP and the Movement for Informal Caregivers, comprising more than 40 associations, express their “deep concern” over the current state of palliative care in Portugal.
“We consider it urgent to adopt structural measures that ensure the right of all individuals to receive care that provides quality of life, comfort, dignity, and pain alleviation, especially during the phases of life when specialized support is most needed,” the letter states.
The organizations highlight that “despite national and international recognition of the value of palliative care,” the current scenario is marked by a “chronic shortage of human resources, with teams often operating below the recommended minimum ratios, increasing the risk of exhaustion and compromising the continuity of care.”
They also note a “lack of adequate physical spaces and equipment,” which undermines “the dignity of care.”
In this regard, the groups call for the development and implementation of a National Plan for Palliative Care, which includes specific incentives for teams and professionals, encouraging participation and retention in this sensitive field.
The associations also urge the establishment of a dedicated career path and progression for Palliative Medicine, including the official recognition of the medical specialty, and investment in proper physical structures and equipment to deliver quality care.
Proposals include “expanding and qualifying community, hospital, and in-patient unit teams to ensure national coverage with adequate ratios” and “providing training for professionals, managers, and leaders, fostering an organizational culture aligned with the principles of palliative care.”
These proposals stem directly from a national study conducted by the APCP among 41 palliative care teams, whose findings clearly identified the main threats, needs, and opportunities experienced in the field.
The organizations assert their conviction that “only with a firm and collaborative political commitment between the Ministry of Health, the SNS Executive Board, and other involved entities can these measures be realized.”
The APCP also expresses its full readiness to collaborate with the administration in the “technical and strategic construction of this plan, for the benefit of patients, families, informal caregivers, health professionals, and the sustainability of the Portuguese health system.”
