The president of the Portuguese Doctors’ Association expressed this Monday great concern about the lack of direction of the National Health Service. He said that the Order will commit itself in the coming months to presenting concrete proposals to change this situation.
45th Anniversary Ceremony Of SNS
The president, Carlos Cortes, spoke on the media channels during the 45th-anniversary commemoration of the SNS. There he stressed that the SNS is currently experiencing a period of enormous difficulty.
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The ceremony, held at Culturgest in Lisbon, was attended by the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, as well as former Health Ministers, including Paulo Macedo, Maria de Belém Roseira, Leonor Beleza, and Ana Jorge.
Current Challenges
Carlos Cortes expressed great concern regarding the current state of the National Health Service. He believes the SNS is failing to provide responses, often even basic ones, to people in need of immediate care. He added that many individuals are unable to find open hospital or emergency room doors to address their urgent health issues.
Cortes recalled:
Not to mention the waiting lists of several months or years for surgery, the waiting lists for consultations.
When marking the 45th anniversary of the SNS, Carlos Cortes mentioned the name of António Arnaut, considered the father of the SNS. He commented that:
I had the privilege of knowing Doctor António Arnaut in the last years of his life and [I believe] he would be very uncomfortable if he were here among us today, with what is happening in the National Health Service.
Need for Major Reforms
The president of the Portuguese Medical Association emphasized that the only viable solution is to implement major reforms to the NHS. One of the key changes he suggested is the adoption of a digital transition to improve the system’s efficiency and responsiveness.
Furthermore, Carlos Cortes stressed that
The National Health Service must be more than just hospitals and health centres.
He advocated for a very comprehensive vision of the NHS that extends beyond healthcare facilities, emphasizing the need to involve the community, local authorities, and various social determinants of health.
These include aspects like physical well-being, physical activity, education, transport, and housing, which all play a crucial role in overall health. Cortes also emphasized that the NHS must become more humanized.
Humanization of the NHS
According to him, it should focus on the care of patients and the well-being of its healthcare professionals. He highlighted:
Somehow, this essence of democracy – because this year we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the NHS, but the 50th anniversary of democracy – has been lost, in my opinion, over the years, and there has been a lack of courage on the part of the political powers, not to change the NHS for the sake of change, but to update the National Health Service to meet today’s demands.
Challenges and Comparisons
Carlos Cortes explained that the demands on the National Health Service come from various factors. These include an aging population and significant advancements in medicine and technology.
Moreover, he also pointed out that the healthcare system itself has changed profoundly over time. He said that:
It seems that there is a fear of having the NHS follow this evolution in the development of society.
The president said that the Order of Physicians will commit itself in the coming months to presenting concrete proposals for a direction for health, without specifying which ones.
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When asked if the significant progress made by the NHS in maternal and child health might be at risk due to current issues like the closure of emergency departments and pregnant women giving birth in ambulances, Carlos Cortes expressed concern.
He stated that if there is no very quick reaction, there could indeed be setbacks. Carlos Cortes provided an example from the British health system, which initially inspired the NHS.
Comparison with the UK
Additionally, he noted that the UK is currently facing very, very serious difficulties, and the government there is struggling to address the challenges. The president of the doctors’ association said that:
I was reading the speech by the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and everything he mentions is very similar to the difficulties we are going through today.
He highlighted that similar to Portugal, the UK experienced a significant increase in health sector investment. However, this surge in funding did not result in corresponding improvements in health outcomes.
In his opinion, political courage is needed to reverse this situation and take fair measures, namely the valorization of all health professionals.
