The Lisbon IPO lost 50 health technicians in just one month

The IPO has already asked the government for permission to hire another 20 nurses, out of the 139 it needs, but it has yet to get the green light.

At TSF Radio, the Lisbon IPO admits that it is the shortage of nurses that is holding back the entry of new operating rooms into operation. “The IPO response, at this moment and immediately, has not been compromised,” says Joao Oliveira.

“We were able to continue working as we did before. What has been hacked is the ability to ramp up our activity, which is very necessary, especially in quantitative terms because there are waiting lists for recovery”, he claims.

“I have no doubt that the Ministry of Health is very committed, along with hospitals and health centers (…) But there is this obsession with powerlessness that causes the Ministry of Finance to restrict licenses With some mistrust regarding the health system, which can be more effective if it is more rapid in recruitment”, adds Joao Oliveira.

Miguel Guimarães, president of the doctors’ union, acknowledges that this situation could extend to other units in the country. With the emergency over, the obligation to remain in the National Health Service has ended, and the president says professionals are unhappy and it is necessary to improve working conditions.

At the same time, increasing hospital autonomy may be beneficial. Miguel Guimaraes reiterates that the obsession with numbers and powerlessness persists. The president gives as an example the time of the pandemic, when units operate with more autonomy.