“At this moment [the PPM] is the party with the best program to present to the Portuguese. It’s a pity that during this campaign we could not discuss it. We discussed trivial issues instead of talking about the programs parties have to present to the Portuguese,” said Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira in Castelo Branco during a campaign event near the Amato Lusitano Hospital (HAL).
The PPM president chose to be next to the hospital in Castelo Branco to present his health program.
“We want to talk about health, about the health problem in the country’s interior. The interior is deserted, and we don’t have habitable conditions. Our hospitals lack doctors, assistance, and equipment. Medicine has evolved,” he argued.
According to Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira, it is necessary to value the careers of medical and all health professionals.
“These are people dedicated to the public cause. They haven’t had a pay raise for two, three, or four consecutive years,” he emphasized.
Additionally, he stressed the need to “provide conditions to doctors and nurses” to encourage them to move to the interior regions.
“We cannot constantly transfer a patient from here to Lisbon and back. This is costly for the state, and firefighters spend more time on the road than concerned with other things,” he argued.
According to the PPM president, the National Health Service (SNS) “is bankrupt and completely disorganized.”
“Health is in chaos. Managers are appointed by party quotas, which does not make sense. A manager should be someone with a career who knows what they are doing,” he maintained, holding the PSD and PS responsible for the current state of the SNS.
Gonçalo da Câmara Pereira further considered the districts of Castelo Branco and Portalegre as some of the most neglected in the country.
When asked by Lusa if he had met or would arrange a meeting with the administration of the Local Health Unit of Castelo Branco (ULSCB), the PPM president clarified that no meeting was held due to the hospital administration’s time constraints.
“We did not meet because they [the Board of Directors] indicated they did not have time to receive us, and I completely understand. I am satisfied because it shows the fragility they are subject to,” he highlighted.
