This Sunday the government will meet with doctors for a new round of negotiations. In the document of the Ministry of Health, to which morning Post had access, the proposals that the executive branch will present to trade union structures are described. The government’s new proposals respond to some of the biggest complaints from health workers, such as a review of working hours and a reorganization of emergency services.
Proposals include establishing a 35-hour work schedule for those performing emergency services and indexing a progressive reduction from 18 to 12 hours of work, including in emergency services, “to test for reduced dependence on emergency work.” overtime and in the order of rendering services.”
The Executive Branch says it will seek to create conditions to extend the opening hours of family medicine clinics so that emergency services are not overburdened. “The goal is to extend opening hours when necessary, thereby ensuring access for users in non-urgent acute illness situations,” the document states.
The Ministry of Health also notes that it will work to reorganize emergency services by establishing integrated responsibility centers and teams specialized in emergency situations in various hospitals in the country.
“This set of proposals aims to increase the Portuguese people’s access to healthcare, reorganize the functioning of the National Health Service (SNS) and improve working conditions and professional satisfaction,” the statement can be read. CM had access.
Negotiations between the Ministry of Health and the Independent Union of Doctors (SIM) and the National Federation of Doctors (Fnam) began in 2022, but the lack of an agreement has intensified doctors’ struggle with strikes and apologies for working overtime. beyond the mandatory 150 hours per year, which has led to restrictions and closures of emergency services in hospitals across the country.
“We hope that we will be able to move forward together towards an agreement that, while reflecting recognition of the medical profession and improving the working conditions of clinical teams, will at the same time improve the response capacity of the NHS. This is what the Portuguese demand from us,” emphasizes the Ministry of Health.