Minister says IPO not defined increase in beds as … – publico

                 

                         
                     

                 

 
                         

The Health Minister does not deny that the three Portuguese oncology institutes (IPO) of the country have lack of beds at the increase in the number of cancer cases. Paulo Macedo, in reaction to news that gave surgery postponements account in Port IPO for lack of beds, ensured that the authority has responded to requests from institutions, but have their own institutes to set other priorities.

                     

                          Paulo Macedo, who was speaking on Wednesday in committee of health, was confronted by deputies with the statements of the President of the Portuguese Society of Oncology and director of the Port IPO surgery service, that the TSF said these hospitals dealing cancer are working “on the edge”. Joaquim Abreu de Sousa said that every week are postponed surgeries in Port for lack of beds.

In response, Health Minister quoted a statement from the Port IPO administration to say that there was 230 surgeries postponed in 2014, but due to health professionals strikes – which led to criticism from the opposition, with the PCP to remember that the strike is a right and that the protests stem from the lack of conditions that the authority provides. Paulo Macedo also assured that the Ministry of Health has approved the investment priorities set by the IPO, but said that the institutions have not asked beds but radiotherapy equipment and renovation of the operating theater.

Macedo referred, in particular, the IPO of Lisbon, where it is being made an investment of more than seven million euros to add laboratories in the old school of nursing and make room for care. “The IPO of Porto, the priorities presented were the installation of the linear accelerator and the organization of the clinic”, specified the minister, referring to investments in computer systems. “I’m not saying that there is no shortage of beds,” cautioned Macedo, who acknowledged that “we need more beds because with aging will be more cases.” But he insisted that, even so, wait times decreased by 13% in the first half of 2014.

On the same theme, the Assistant Secretary of State for Health, Fernando Leal da Costa argued that part of the problem is the fact that the IPO continue to centralize all activity and said that patients “can be diverted to other hospitals where there is cancer surgery” and less vague problems. “The activity can no longer be solely focused on the IPO, to the detriment of patients,” called.