“We have very, very high vaccination coverage rates and we will continue to insist, insist, insist, because, as all competent European authorities have already said, this is a year where, especially, flu will be a big challenge,” stated Ana Paula Martins, in Guarda.
The government official continued her tour of the country’s Local Health Units (ULS) today as part of the National Health Service’s (SNS) winter preparation, visiting the ULS in Guarda this morning and proceeding to the ULS of Cova da Beira and Castelo Branco in the afternoon.
The Minister of Health remarked that hospitals are prepared with winter and contingency plans at various levels, but admitted “the pressure will be very high.”
“The winter will be very tough. In addition to these plans, we also have emergency medical plans reinforced to support hospitals because pre-hospital emergency medical services are also critically important at these times of increased pressure.”
Ana Paula Martins added that during this period, “the usual seasonal devices have been increased with more means to be activated.”
Moreover, the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) is also “trying to reinforce the resources, as happens during these phases, especially in areas like the interior.”
Regarding the vaccination campaign, the Minister stated that the SNS has “mass vaccination” and that demand for flu vaccines has been “very high, especially in health centers, nursing homes, and the national network of continued care.”
“Through the Directorate-General of Health [DGS], we have already made several appeals for those who are recommended to continue getting vaccinated. It is the way we can minimize emergency visits for those at higher risk and also reduce mortality,” she indicated.
Ana Paula Martins reiterated that Portugal currently has “very, very high” vaccination coverage rates and that health services will continue “to insist, insist, insist” on the need for the elderly and high-risk populations to get vaccinated because “this year flu will be a big challenge.”
The Ministry of Health is liaising with ULS to prepare the SNS for the winter period and to understand “in detail the health units’ responses to the additional challenges observed at this time of year, particularly regarding the response to seasonal diseases, emergency management, and coordination between different levels of care.”
In addition to visiting emergency services, the Minister of Health meets with boards of administration and health professionals. During these visits, “concrete measures to reinforce human and material resources, as well as strategies for coordination between primary, hospital, and continued care, to ensure an integrated and efficient response to the population’s needs” will also be discussed.
On these visits, the SNS Executive Director, Álvaro Almeida, accompanies Ana Paula Martins, except at the ULS in Guarda. On Tuesday, the Health Minister will be at the ULS in Alto Alentejo.
