The president of the Order of Nurses (OE), Luís Filipe Barreira, stated in a communiqué that “there must be more rigorous management and control of public expenditure,” in light of the reduction in the health budget.
Luís Filipe Barreira commented on the Público newspaper report regarding instructions from the Executive Directorate of the National Health Service (DE-SNS), led by Álvaro Almeida, for hospitals to cut expenses, even if it slows down surgeries, consultations, and other care.
The OE president warned that any cuts affecting human resources, particularly the hiring of nurses, jeopardizes the quality and safety of care.
“The reduction in the budget should not impact new hiring of healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, whose shortage, according to the latest data, exceeds 14,000 in the SNS,” the communiqué states.
Barreira also lamented that the Organizational Development Plans (PDO) continue to await approval from the Ministry of Health.
According to Barreira, without the PDO approvals, it is impossible to hire nurses, advocating for an “urgent reinforcement” of these professionals in the SNS.
“Due to the scarcity of professionals and the workload of those still in function, ‘the quality and safety of care are at risk,'” he added.
