According to the minister, seven more babies were born per day in the SNS, "which proves that the system is working, with quality and safety".


The minister was speaking to journalists after a visit to the S. José hospital in Lisbon, as part of a World Youth Day (WYD) initiative.


Regarding the salary negotiations with the doctors' unions, the minister said he was very committed to a constructive dialogue with all health professionals, and stressed several times that this dialogue should be done at the negotiating table and not in the media.