Marcelo considers current health problems “complex and critical”

The President of the Republic said this Friday that the current health problems are “complex and critical”, but believes that “positive points” will be achieved in the dialogue between doctors and the government in the coming days.

“This is a difficult situation, but when they tell me that the dialogue continues to exist, I believe it,” said Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa on the sidelines of the 18th meeting of the Arraiolos Group, which took place this Friday in Porto.

Despite being “almost closed all day” at the meeting of the Arraiolos group, the head of state admitted that he spoke again with the president of the Order of Doctors in the hope that it would be possible to gain “positive points” during the meeting. dialogue between these health workers and the leader of António Costa.

“I expect that over the next few days, this week and next week, positive aspects will be found in this dialogue,” he said.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that this Friday, after the dinner with the heads of state participating in the Arraiolos group, he will make another telephone call to find out about the development of the situation.

While admitting he was concerned about what was happening in the NHS, the head of state said he was keeping himself informed about the chances of maintaining dialogue as far as possible.

“Obviously, if I weren’t worried, I wouldn’t be at the center of an international meeting, constantly monitoring what is happening in the health sector in Portugal,” he stressed.

However, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa believes that “everyone is clearly aware of how important it is not to sacrifice the Portuguese.”

The President of the Republic also emphasized that until the end of the year this is a critical period due to the arrival of winter and therefore everyone wants to avoid the emergence of critical situations in the queue for emergency assistance.

“This is a situation that is especially critical until the end of the year; the question arises in connection with, for now, until the end of the year. Then, starting in January, the issue of counting hours and pay comes up again. overtime,” he emphasized.

But the end of the year will not come until December 31, and it is still only October, he concluded.

On Wednesday, the president of the Order of Physicians said after a meeting with the health minister that the government was open to resuming negotiations on issues that had been closed, namely the establishment of a 35-hour week.

Several hospitals in the country are having difficulty maintaining full teams, especially for emergency services, as several doctors refuse to work more than the 150 overtime hours per year required by law.