The PCP secretary-general on Saturday accused the socialist government of wanting to dismantle the National Health Service (SNS) and called attention to people’s real problems, rather than wasting time on minor matters.
Paulo Raimundo spoke to journalists during today’s march for the National Health Service (SNS), between Campo Pequeno and Saldanha, in Lisbon, where he took the opportunity to draw attention to the hundreds of people who attended this ” great action in defense of the SNS”.
Interpelled by a person complaining about the lack of a GP, the leader of the PCP drew attention to the 1.7 million Portuguese who still do not have a GP and stressed that this is indeed a problem that affects the Portuguese and the country.
“Access to health, the problem of retaining health workers, valuing the National Health Service, making sure everyone has access to medical care, this is what is needed and urgent to respond,” he said.
Regarding the alleged increase in investment in terms of spending on SNS staff, Paulo Raimundo said that “this was the year when more government money was transferred to disease companies”.
According to the leader of the PCP, “about 40% of the state’s total budget is for health [foi]transferred directly to the disease trade”, i.e. to “all institutions that make disease a business”.
“We have to deploy these public goods to guarantee the conditions of the SNS. What these people here demand is access to health and who should respond to this problem is the SNS, which has all the conditions to provide”, but which “It needs more professionals, valued professionals, better conditions. That the money that is transferred to the private sector is transferred to the public sector, where it is needed,” he said.
And he added: “The SNS cannot respond, because it is being polished every day”.
According to Paulo Raimundo, the protesters’ complaints are those that deserve the government’s attention and response, not other issues reported through the media.
Asked if he was referring to the Galamba case, Paulo Raimundo admitted that this is a case that has taken up too much media space, while the real issues have not been resolved.
“The case is important, but that’s enough. Make it clear what needs to be clarified, if there are lies, clarify, but that’s not the people’s problem, there are 1.6 million people without a GP, difficulties in accessing to a GP, disrespected and devalued professionals leaving the SNS, these are people’s problems, people face every day”.
For the PCP, “the worst moment for the SNS is what is to come, if measures are not taken today: strengthening funds, strengthening investments, valuing professionals and guaranteeing access to health for the Portuguese population”
“We will continue to support these actions and the government cannot remain indifferent to what is happening today,” he assured.
Source: DN
