Health Minister Manuel Pizarro said on Tuesday there were “strong reasons to believe that the SNS is healthier at heart” following a temporary agreement with the Independent Union of Doctors (SIM) to raise wages.
“This is a temporary agreement, this is a possible government agreement. The political circumstances in which we find ourselves are known, this is the limit that we could reach, and it was a very great effort on both sides, on our part, as well as on the part of the Independent Union of Doctors (SIM),” said Manuel Pizarro on completion of negotiations with trade unions representing doctors.
The agreement was reached only with SIM, since the National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) refused to accept the proposal for guardianship.
The minister said it was a “huge effort” to attract and retain professionals in the National Health Service (NHS), arguing that the agreement values medical careers.
“Doctors at the beginning of their careers, specialists, have a salary increase of almost 15% (14.6%), then they have an increase of 13% at the second stage of their career and just over 11% at (…) the highest level in their career. This is a possible agreement, since at the same time (…) about 2,000 USF doctors [Unidades de Saúde Familiar] Model A or personalized healthcare facilities that move to USF Model B will see an increase of approximately 60%,” he emphasized.
“We are talking about a very big effort by the state to redress this central profession in the public life of the Portuguese,” he added.
USF Model B doctors will receive a base salary increase of about 22%, according to Manuel Pizarro.
At Tuesday’s meeting, it was also decided that for intern doctors in a normal year the increase will be 6.1%, for intern doctors in the first to third year – 7.9%, and for intern doctors in the fourth and subsequent years – 15 .7%.
The salary increase will affect all doctors, giving priority to salary reductions.
According to the department, the number of hospital assistants working 40 hours will increase by 14.6%, graduate assistants by 12.9% and senior graduate assistants by 10.9%.
Asked whether the interim agreement with SIM could “fall apart” after the election of a new government on March 10, 2024, the health minister replied that “each government will take on its responsibilities.”
“This government has accepted its responsibility by delivering negotiations that have budgetary coverage for 2024 that ensures we can continue to do the serious reporting that has been the prerogative of our administration, while at the same time having balance with other professions. SNA and public administration,” he noted.
Despite the fact that it reached almost 15% requested by SIM, the guardianship explained that, taking into account the “current political circumstances”, it was not possible to reach consensus on reducing working hours to 35 hours, inviting unions to celebrate a temporary agreement to increase doctors’ salaries without changing normal working hours.
Negotiations between unions representing doctors and the government ended Tuesday after 36 meetings and 19 months.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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