“The flu and Covid-19 vaccination campaign is not over yet, we are still in the middle of winter. There are vaccines available. All those who are over 60 years old and those who have not been vaccinated, must get vaccinated”, Health Minister Manuel Pizarro told journalists on January 8, in Cantanhede.

“We are having an influenza A epidemic, with great virulence. The virus causes very serious illness. It is not yet known whether this is due to the original nature of the virus or to the fact that the years of less social contact during the pandemic have left people more vulnerable”, he maintained.

The government official also admitted that the pressure on intensive care has forced him to postpone scheduled surgeries.

“We also need intensive care to operate on patients who have certain pathologies and who may need intensive care following surgery. If vacancies are occupied because we had to extend them to acutely ill patients, we have to adapt the health services”, explained Manuel Pizarro.

The minister also mentioned that the emergency room has become, over the years, the main gateway to the health service.

“We are very committed to reforming the emergency rooms, valuing alternative means of accessing healthcare, starting from the contact of patients in a situation of acute illness with the SNS 24 line, also creating responses or strengthening responses in the community”, he stated.

The Municipal Council of Cantanhede, in the district of Coimbra, signed the transfer of powers in the area of health, providing a response to emergency situations involving acute illness, every working day, from 9:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. at the Family Health units (USF), and from 6:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. at the Health Center, which provides services on weekends and holidays, from 10:00a.m. to 8:00p.m.

Manuel Pizarro recalled the importance of these alternatives so that people do not use emergency care as the main gateway to the health service.

“Since January 6, things have been calmer. In the majority of hospitals, we already have a response within the time we hope for, however, we cannot forget the previous days.”

The minister also noted that six municipalities still need to sign the transfer of powers in the health area to reach the target of 95 percent imposed by the European Commission.

The government expects to reach this target by the end of the month.