The Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, met today for the first time with the unions representing doctors, nurses and pharmacists, starting the salary negotiations demanded by the unions.
The first meeting is scheduled for 10:00 at the Ministry of Health with the Independent Doctors’ Union (SIM), followed by a meeting with the National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) at 11:00.
In the afternoon, the new ministerial team will meet with the unions representing nurses and the National Union of Pharmacists.
Wage increases, better working conditions and career progression are some of the demands that the unions had already made of the previous ministerial team and which they will bring back to the negotiating table with the new government.
SIM’s demands include restoring the 15% salary increase for doctors by 2026, completing the interim agreement reached with the previous government, and career progression.
FNAM, meanwhile, will bring to the negotiating table 10 points that it considers fundamental to “resolving the urgent crisis in the NHS”, in order to retain doctors and guarantee the provision of health care, including the reinstatement of the normal working week of 35 hours and the updating of the salary scale, the reinstatement of the medical internship as an entry category in the medical career and the effective progression in the remunerative positions in each category and the speeding up of competitions.
In a statement, the Portuguese Nurses’ Union (SEP) argues that “it is imperative” to agree at the first meeting on “the issues and a negotiating timetable that targets the moments when each of the demands will be resolved”.
Enhancing the nursing career is one of the SEP’s priority issues, in addition to resolving the various injustices that continue to exist as a result of the counting of nurses’ points.
The five nursing unions that called off a five-day strike scheduled for the end of April and beginning of May, following the minister’s willingness to start negotiations, are also demanding a salary and career review.
The Sindicato dos Enfermeiros, Sindicato Independente Profissionais de Enfermagem, Sindicato Democrático dos Enfermeiros de Portugal, Sindicato Independente de Todos os Enfermeiros Unidos and Sindicato Nacional dos Enfermeiros are also demanding a “fair, transparent and feasible” evaluation and performance model.
At the meeting, the National Union of Pharmacists (SNF) will also demand that the salary scales be updated, that the length of service in the NHS be fully counted for promotion and career progression, that the number of pharmacists be adapted to the needs of the public service and that the Ministry of Health recognize the title of specialist.
On Saturday, the Minister of Health said she had “no limits in advance” in negotiations with the unions, admitting that she was still unaware of the demands of these health professionals.
“The unions, in the meetings we’re going to hold, will present their specifications and we, in all seriousness and loyalty, are going to talk about these specifications, which we don’t know at the moment,” said Ana Paula Martins.
