The data provided by the Government are still provisional, according to information given to Lusa by the Ministry of Health.
Doctors and nurses conclude two days of national strike today, also marked by demonstrations from both professional groups in the health sector.
According to figures from the Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP), the nurses’ strike recorded a 60% to 70% participation rate and gathered about 500 professionals in a demonstration in Lisbon to demand better working conditions and salaries.
Today’s gathering in Lisbon brought together about 100 professionals in front of the Ministry of Health, according to an estimate by Lusa at the location.
“Despite the unworthy diversionary maneuver by the Ministry of Health around a referred agreement, to confuse and demobilize,” the expressive participation of nurses in this strike reflects their widespread discontent with unresolved problems, stated the SEP in a press release.
Nurses want the ministry to reschedule a negotiation meeting, which was originally set for September 12.
On the doctors’ side, about 150, according to figures from the National Federation of Doctors (Fnam), gathered on Tuesday on Avenida João Crisóstomo, in front of the Ministry of Health. Golden balloons marking the 45 years of the National Health Service (SNS) stood out, along with various posters held by clinicians with messages such as “Doctors demand to be treated with respect” and “It’s a strike because it’s serious. All for the SNS.”
Today, the president of Fnam, Joana Bordalo e Sá, admitted in Porto the possibility of a joint strike by health professionals if “nothing is done” to solve the sector’s problems.
“If nothing is done, we may eventually have to strike together,” she stated to Lusa in front of São João Hospital in Porto, where she gave an update on this protest.
Joana Bordalo e Sá claimed that on Tuesday, “2/3 of doctors went on strike” and similar participation is expected today.
