Local health system

Reunimos com a administração da Unidade Local de Saúde 

Following the public statements of the Minister of Health in the Parliamentary Health Committee about the supposed pilot project to create the local health system, we requested a meeting with the management of the ULS and the Union of Municipalities of the Algarve.

The request for a meeting with the latter was due to the Minister stating in the above-mentioned Parliamentary Health Committee that the plan to establish the aforementioned local health system had been discussed with the mayors of the region.

It should be remembered that the Basic Health Act provided for the creation of local health systems which the Basic Law of the National Health Service intended to exclude,

In this context, the administration points out that, yes, in a meeting with the Minister of Health of the Algarve, depending on the specificities of the region, it should be compared with the autonomous regions and, as a result, there should be autonomy. Which guarantees greater autonomy in decision-making.

According to the administration, its vision of a local health system, which should in fact be a regional health system, must bring together all the public partners that ensure effective health promotion. That is, health promotion is everyone’s responsibility, and in this context, local authorities guarantee qualifications and mobility conditions, schools guarantee health education and literacy, social security, professional associations, trade unions, etc., must be partners in this project.

They also note that the social and private sectors can play an important role, not in a competitive system but in cooperation in which the SNS cannot respond in a timely manner.

It was assumed that we would be alerted to the internal presentation (ULS health professionals) of this project, and of course at the public presentation.

Of course, it is up to us to monitor this project and ensure that we are active partners and supporters in improving the project, if we choose to.

To discuss other pressing issues for nurses, a meeting has been scheduled with the Director of Nursing for the third week of July. In addition, we will send a proposal for discussion at this meeting regarding the amount of pay for the hours owed to nurses.