Healthcare systems face delays in Brazil and Portugal

Public health systems in Brazil and Portugal are facing significant operational challenges regarding patient wait times and staffing.

In Alagoinhas, Brazil, Councilor Jaldice Nunes has denounced long delays within the Unified Health System (SUS). She reported that patients are waiting years for specialized consultations, exams, and surgeries. Nunes highlighted the social impact of these delays, citing cases where individuals are unable to work while awaiting orthopedic procedures, and questioned the management of patients who do not qualify for elective surgery blitzes but remain stuck in the regulation queue.

In Portugal, the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, addressed emergency room delays in the Amadora Sintra region, attributing the crisis to a lack of family doctors for 240,000 users and a shortage of medical professionals. The Executive Director of the SNS noted that hiring difficulties stem from delays in approving local health unit plans, which are dependent on the publication of a global reference framework by the Ministry of Finance. Critics suggest that the central administration's focus on budget control may be hindering the ability to address immediate healthcare needs.