Doctors demand recognition and warn of the “risk of collapse” of the NHS
The National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) warned in a statement that the National Health Service (SNS) is experiencing an "unprecedented" crisis, with overcrowded emergency rooms, closed units, and 63 babies born in ambulances or on public roads since January. "From Chaves to the Algarve, pregnant women, children, and the elderly are traveling dozens of kilometers to access essential medical care," the press release reads.
In a context of risk of collapse, NHS doctors continue to demand “decent conditions and fair wages”, as has been reported over the last few months by Jornal do Algarve (JA) .
In a statement, the FNAM announced that the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, has called the federation to a collective bargaining meeting for the medical profession, scheduled for Thursday, October 16, at 10:15 a.m., at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Lisbon. However, the union criticized the lack of prior submission of an agenda and any proposed legislation, considering that such an approach "contradicts good collective bargaining practices and good faith in negotiations."
"This meeting should mark the moment when the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, abandons her blocking stance and engages in serious dialogue that allows doctors to practice their profession with dignity, instead of continuing to be pushed out of the NHS," argues the FNAM.
Among the proposals presented by the federation are the reinstatement of the 35-hour work week, the recovery of purchasing power — given the approximation of doctors' salaries to the national minimum wage —, the reinstatement of internships in the medical career, the recovery of lost vacation days, as well as the reinforcement of continuing education and measures to support parenting.
The FNAM emphasizes that many of these measures “have no budgetary impact” and that their implementation would allow “reconciling professional, personal and family life”, in addition to “enhancing the value of medical careers and contributing to the sustainability of the NHS”.
“The survival of the NHS depends on motivated and valued doctors,” warns the federation.
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