The Minister of Health, Manuel Pizarro, defended this Tuesday in Olhão, in the Algarve, that his proposal for Doctors’ salary increases of up to 50% cannot be underestimatedinviting them to come closer to the Government’s position.
I think that all Portuguese, including doctors, are aware that when we propose salary increases, which in some cases are 23%, in others 32% and, in other cases, […] the increase is actually 50%. We are not talking about increases that can be devalued,” said Manuel Pizarro two days before a round of negotiations scheduled for Thursday with representatives of the doctors.
On the sidelines of a visit to the Lendas de Olhão Family Health Unit, in the Health Center of this Algarve city, the person in charge assured that he will also prepare “a document with greater technical detail” than the one that has already been distributed and He considered that It is not the lack of this text “that will prevent the conclusion of the negotiations”, which he hopes will reach a “successful conclusion”.
The minister recalled that “For there to be understanding there must be a rapprochement on both sides.”
The government and medical unions prepare concessions for negotiations. SIM admits salary increase of 22% in three years
“I don’t like the idea of striking while negotiating, but naturally I respect people’s right to think differently,” said Manuel Pizarro, adding that the country lives “in a democratic society where people have the right to strike.”
Doctors return to strike this Tuesday and demonstrate in front of the Ministry of Health
The National Federation of Doctors (Fnam) called a national strike for Tuesday and Wednesday and accused the Minister of Health on Monday of “pushing the country towards an announced tragedy” with the risk of deaths.
Fnam also considered that the Government’s proposal for these professionals is “full of inequalities.”
oh [ministro da Saúde] Unfortunately, Dr. Manuel Pizarro is pushing the country towards an announced tragedy where deaths can happen, where other tragedies can happen and the responsibility lies entirely with the Government if it does nothing or does not incorporate what the doctors have in this negotiation process,” he accused. The president of Fnam, Joana Bordalo y Sá, at the end of an urgent meeting of the Medical Forum in Porto.
At the end of the same meeting, the president of the Independent Medical Union (SIM) warned that the unions are still unaware of the executive’s proposal and that despite a certain openness “there is still an ocean that separates the two parties.”
We are very concerned about the evolution of the situation; In fact, at that meeting there was [na quinta-feira entre o ministro da Saúde e os sindicatos dos médicos]certain openness but there is still an ocean that separates us from reaching an eventual agreement,” said Jorge Roque da Cunha.
For the unionist, “it is not enough for the Government to announce a proposal, there have to be concrete measures in relation to what the Government announces. We are three days away from the meeting and we still do not have the specific documents,” he criticized.
According to Joana Bordalo e Sá, Fnam wants a written proposal and wants “to know what the Government decided to unilaterally legislate in Councils of Ministers on the new full-time regime and the issue of Family Health Units.”
Source: Observadora
