Prime Minister has faltered dramatically in his primary health-related priority. He had promised to reduce the waiting times for oncology surgeries, and today a performance evaluation report of the Health Service has been made public, showing a 20% decrease in the third quarter of this year,” said José Luís Carneiro.
Amidst the astonishment expressed by the Minister of Health, the Prime Minister has the obligation to explain to the nation what justifies this 20% reduction in oncology surgeries,” added the leader of PS, speaking to journalists after a meeting of the National Secretariat of the Socialist Party, which took place at a hotel in Setúbal.
Health Minister Ana Paula Martins admitted it is a “very worrying problem,” emphasizing that the new referral system and integration into Local Health Units (ULS) should help reduce waiting times. However, José Luís Carneiro believes that at this point, the Prime Minister himself must provide explanations regarding the sector’s issues.
“This is no longer a problem for the Health Minister; it is a problem for the Prime Minister, because we also learned that the minister was confronted with orders for budget cuts in the Ministry of Health. No one can hide anymore that orders have been given to reduce investment in health, in the acquisition of goods and services by 10%. The Prime Minister is responsible for the Government’s policy and must provide explanations,” José Luís Carneiro said.
“The Government and the Prime Minister owe a public explanation. The Portuguese have the right to demand this explanation from the Prime Minister, who promised to resolve the health issues in a very short time,” the socialist leader emphasized.
José Luís Carneiro also noted that the worsening of health issues during Luís Montenegro’s governance, particularly in the Setúbal region, contrasts with the investments made by PS Governments in the Setúbal district, resulting in “11 new health units, renovation of health units, and the upgrade of three out of four emergency services in the region.”
