Health Minister Manuel Pizarro said this Friday that the debt of the National Health System (NHS) is “a cause for concern”, noting that a comparison of the amounts will only be made at the end of the year.
“Obviously, this is a cause for concern. We need to continue to increase funding for the SNA, so the state budget for 2024 provides for an increase in spending on the SNA by approximately 1,200 million euros,” the minister said on the sidelines on the 26th. 1st National Congress of the Order of Physicians in Gaia.
Expresso reports today that SNS’s debt to external suppliers reached €2.322 million in September, “with a steady increase since the start of 2023”, which began with more than €1.618 million outstanding since December 2022.
However, Manuel Pizarro told reporters that, despite concerns, a comparison of debt amounts will be carried out at the end of this year.
“At the end of 2022, we had the lowest debt in the history of social media, and that is where we will make the comparison,” he added.
Also asked about negotiations with doctors’ unions, Manuel Pizarro denied there was any fatigue on the part of the parties, who, in his opinion, were “very focused” on the agreement.
However, the minister criticized the unions’ “lack of approach” to the government’s proposals.
“The government has come very close to the positions of the trade unions, and it is time for the unions to move closer to the positions proposed by the government. “There is a lack of rapprochement and it must be recognized that the government, even in light of these circumstances, continues to make efforts to reach an agreement with doctors,” he said.
Doctors’ unions and the government failed to reach an agreement at a meeting on Thursday and will meet again on Tuesday, a day before the final vote on the 2024 state budget.
Negotiations have been going on for 19 months, with the National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) demanding a 30% increase, a 35-hour weekly schedule, 12 hours of emergency care and an update to the base salary that would restore purchasing power to the treble level. level for all doctors.
The Independent Doctors’ Union (SIM) accepted a proposal for a 15% increase at a meeting on Thursday, a compromise from the 30% previously demanded.
The Health Ministry unveiled a new proposal on Thursday for graduated pay increases of 12.7% for early-career doctors, higher than 11% for graduate assistants and 9.6% for doctors at the top of their careers.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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