Government Official Proposes Compelling Medical Professionals to Maintain Residence in Almada; Previous Attempt Failed in 2023
In the heart of Lisbon, a contentious ministerial decree has stirred up controversy within the medical community. Minister Ana Paula Martins, in an attempt to address urgent healthcare needs, has proposed a measure that has divided opinions and sparked resistance.
The decree, published in the Diário da República, aims to relocate obstetric doctors from various hospitals in Lisbon due to renovation works and closures of maternity wards. This is not the first time such a measure has been proposed, but its implementation in the past has met with failure.
The crux of the matter unfolded at the Hospital de Santa Maria, where Minister Martins attempted to forcibly mobilize obstetric doctors to the Hospital São Francisco Xavier. This move, however, was met with strong internal opposition, leading to the removal of the obstetrics director, Diogo Ayres de Campos, and the resignation of eight doctors from their contracts.
The process was far from peaceful. Luísa Pinto, who was the director of the service at the time, was also dismissed. Pinto accused the administration of lack of respect and conditions of insecurity in September 2023.
The unions have warned that the proposed measure is not feasible. The National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) has stated that collective agreements protect doctors from the transfer of their workplace.
The minister's decision does not depend on negotiation, it only requires the minister's signature. This has led to concerns about the potential impact on the quality of care and the welfare of the medical professionals involved.
The news about the minister forcing obstetricians to cover shifts at the Emergency Department of the Hospital Garcia de Orta in Almada is reported by Expresso. Moreover, Minister Martins has proposed a solution to address the closed urgencies on the South Bank of the Tagus: transferring obstetricians from Barreiro to Almada.
Doctors from the obstetrics and gynecology service at Hospital de Santa Maria, in Lisbon, and the Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte (CHULN) were exceptionally and temporarily placed in a mobility regime. The mobilization lasted only a month.
However, the forced mobilization of obstetricians is currently the subject of legal scrutiny. The decree is in the hands of lawyers, and the fate of the measure remains uncertain. Despite attempts for comment, Ministers Manuel Pizarro and Fernando Araújo did not respond to Expresso's queries on what went wrong in this case.
The controversy surrounding the ministerial decree serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between healthcare needs and the rights of medical professionals. As the situation unfolds, the medical community and the public alike will be watching closely to see how this unfolds.
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