In a visit to the Algarve this week, the Health Secretary unveiled a series of measures aimed at mitigating the expected rise in patients at health care units in southern Portugal.
Manuel Delgado said in Faro that among the measures that will be put into motion for the summer, is an extension of consultation times at the region’s 12 most popular healthcare centres.
The Health Secretary explained that this measure is set to become operational on 1 July and will run until 15 September.
In addition to the reinforcement of medical staff at healthcare centres, the Health Ministry will also erect 32 medical tents along the country’s southern coastline.
Consultations directed at tourists will be operational in Sagres, Portimão, Armação de Pera, Pêra, Carvoeiro, Alvor, Olhos de Água, Quarteira, Almancil, Olhão, Tavira, Monte Gordo and Altura, where medical staff have been asked to work overtime.
The government has also said that another short to medium-term objective is to deal with the chronic shortage of doctors and nurses in the region, which became increasingly apparent during the financial crisis and the resulting austerity measures imposed on the civil service.
Manuel Delgado explained that while a permanent increase in the medical staff contingent is the government’s ultimate objective, shortfalls will for now be dealt with by employing “exceptional measures.”
These will include dealing with growing waiting lists for surgery and orthopaedic consultations, along with agreements with hospitals in the capital for urgent cases to be sent to Lisbon.
Periodic visits of medical teams from the country’s larger cities to the Algarve will also be announced, while any additional overflow of patients will be channelled to the private health sector.
Over the course of the coming months and even years, the Health Ministry will look to attract medical professionals to the Algarve by offering them pay packages to rival any other district in the country, while also expediting promotions for doctors and nurses who relocate to the region.
The Health Secretary was accompanied by National Health Director Francisco George during the Algarve visit, who revealed that health authorities and volunteers will be conducting awareness campaigns this summer directed at highlighting the relationship between alcohol and serious traffic accidents among the younger generations. Officials will also be focussing on parents, urging them to be extra cautious when their children are bathing in the sea and swimming pools while also limiting exposure to the sun.