“Believe that these measures are not exclusively – I know that this is what usually has the most media attraction – but they are not, in any way, just about closures or concentrations,” Ana Paula Martins told journalists today at the Prelada hospital in Porto.
“There are many other measures we need to take to ensure that our teams want to stay in our National Health Service,” Ana Paula Martins said without specifying.
When directly asked if she admits the closure of some emergency services or services to concentrate them in Lisbon, as has already been admitted by the Executive Director of the National Health Service (SNS) in the case of maternal and child care, the minister admitted to following the recommendations of the technical commission created by the Government.
“I admit what the technical commission understands should be done for the good of mothers and children, always with two very important aspects,” in this case the support of the Prime Minister, Luís Montenegro, and the collaboration of health professionals.
When asked if dialogue with mayors will also be necessary in case the concentration of services in Lisbon means the closure of some units, especially on the eve of municipal elections (in 2025), Ana Paula Martins confirmed.
“With the mayors too, naturally, because it’s work that has to be done. There has to be very good communication. We have to involve the mayors from the first moment. The measures will not be applied without hearing the inter-municipal commissions, which are now even part of the Local Health Units,” she added.
According to the minister, “there has always been openness from the mayors” and “there has never been a lack of openness, collaboration,” giving the example of meetings she has already had and the recent transfer of competencies from the Central Administration.
Regarding whether the timing to make the necessary reforms in the SNS is ideal, the minister said that “it is the one we have reached, with a National Health Service that currently has only 40% of obstetricians at its service.”
“It is a moment, there is no other moment, this is the moment to, with serenity, common sense, prudence, good communication and the involvement of everyone, including the populations, find the best solutions,” she emphasized.
Ana Paula Martins noted the importance of taking “measures that are effectively well received,” ensuring dialogue with professional orders and unions.
“Sometimes we have the best of intentions, we think that some measures… we see them favorably, but then we realize that in practice, after all, they don’t translate efficiently. That’s why dialogue is fundamental,” she concluded.
The minister accompanied this morning the opening of the Clinical Care Center (CAC) in that hospital owned by the Santa Casa da Misericórdia do Porto, which will receive patients with a lower degree of urgency from the São João, Santo António hospitals and the SNS24 line.
