The outgoing health minister acknowledged this Monday the existence of a “very serious emergency problem” in Portugal.
In statements made to reporters at the Cantanhede health facility, Manuel Pizarro said that “the peak of the flu must be these days.”
The government official also highlighted the merits of decentralizing the NHS, which he said was “good for the people”.
Manuel Pizarro was concerned about the increase in intensive care hospitalizations and urged the Portuguese to get vaccinated against flu and Covid-19.
“The vaccination campaign against influenza and Covid-19 is not over yet, we are still in the middle of winter. There are vaccines. Everyone over 60 years of age and who has not yet been vaccinated should be vaccinated,” he told reporters. today in Cantanhead, Health Minister Manuel Pizarro.
Asked by Lusa about the increase in intensive care unit admissions, a government official said he was aware of the situation, adding that it was possible to “fully respond from an intensive care perspective.”
“We are experiencing an epidemic of influenza A with great virulence. The virus causes very serious human illness. It is not yet fully known whether this is due to the underlying nature of the virus or because years of less social contact during the pandemic have left people more vulnerable,” he said.
The government official also admitted that intensive care pressure was forcing him to postpone planned operations.
“We also need intensive care to operate on patients with certain pathologies who may require intensive care after surgery. If vacancies are filled because we had to extend them to seriously ill patients, we will have to adapt health services,” clarified Manuel Pizarro. .
While it is “very undesirable” for every patient whose surgery is delayed, “it is a normal part of the functioning of the health care system,” he added.
The Minister also noted that the emergency department has become the main gateway to the health service over the years.
“We are very committed to reforming these emergencies by valuing alternative ways to access care, starting with users in acute illness contacting the SNS line. [Serviço Nacional de Saúde] 24, but also creating responses or increasing reactions in society,” he said.
The Municipal Council of Cantanhede, in the district of Coimbra, today signed the transfer of powers in the field of health, which, among other things, provides for the response to emergencies related to acute diseases, every working day, from 9:00 to 6:00 at the Family Health Unit ( USF) and from 18:00 to 22:00 at the Medical Center, which also provides services on weekends and holidays, from 10:00 to 20:00.
Manuel Pizarro recalled the importance of this response so that people do not use emergency care as the main route to health services.
“Since Saturday the situation has become calmer. In the vast majority of hospitals we have already received a response within the time frame we hope for, but this cannot make us forget the previous days.”
The minister also noted that six municipalities still need to sign the transfer of powers in the health sector in order to achieve the target set by the European Commission of 95%.
The government expects to achieve this goal by the end of the month.
Author: morning Post This Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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