“The reduction of professionals in the National Health Service is terrible news. It is something that must be reversed: there needs to be a very serious investment by the government in the National Health Service,” emphasized António Filipe.
Filipe expressed concern over the deterioration of the NHS, stating that presidential candidates have a duty to alert those in executive positions to the necessity of strengthening the National Health Service.
“It’s not just about defending it, but its defense involves a significant boost in human resources,” he stated.
Outside the Covões Hospital in Coimbra, where journalists were barred from entering, António Filipe highlighted his decision to visit this hospital was deliberate. He has previously visited in his capacity as a deputy “when the closure of services, devaluation of services, or their merger with other hospitals was at stake.”
“It’s been a long journey defending Covões Hospital, and once again, we are facing the closure of the emergency rooms: it is another case,” he argued.
For the presidential candidate, the rights of users are at stake.
“The lack of investment in the National Health Service and the shortage of professionals in this sector is the cause of the increasing difficulties faced by users,” he concluded.
In addition to António Filipe (supported by the PCP), other announced candidates include Luís Marques Mendes (supported by the PSD and CDS-PP), António José Seguro (supported by the PS), André Ventura (supported by Chega), Henrique Gouveia e Melo, Catarina Martins (supported by the BE), João Cotrim Figueiredo (supported by the Liberal Initiative), and Jorge Pinto (supported by Livre), among others.
