Union: Doctors' strike participation in the Algarve is around 60%

According to the union leader, there was a "good turnout" for today's strike , including from doctors to the stoppage called for today, which, together with nurses and general workers, results in an overall participation of 70% to 80%.

"Healthcare in the Algarve is currently paralyzed. At Faro Hospital, the emergency room and operating room are operating at a minimum level. The emergency room, I could even say, is below minimum levels, which is unfortunately the norm in the Algarve," he said.

In Faro, at least two Family Health Units have fully joined the strike, and others, while not closed, are also short of staff, he added.

According to André Gomes, emergency room operations on the day of the strike are similar to normal days, as the fact that there are fewer workers contributes to increased response times and longer waiting times.

"Because there are fewer workers than there should be, and this is normal times, not because of the strike. If you go there tomorrow or next week, you'll find the same situation, the same panorama," he emphasized.

André Gomes also pointed out as an example the fact that in the Central Algarve, that is, in Faro, Albufeira and Loulé, there is only one doctor guaranteeing palliative care assistance throughout the year.

"Therefore, it's not about the strike. The Algarve is connected to the machines all year round, and this strike is a wake-up call so we can save the Algarve. Therefore, this is our appeal to the government," he concluded.

The strike in the Algarve's health services is affecting emergency services, outpatient consultations and the operation of the operating room at Faro hospital, according to sources from the unions that called the strike.

In the case of nurses, strike participation is around 80%, and in the operating room, participation is 100%, with all scheduled surgeries being cancelled and only oncological surgeries being performed, according to the unions.

The strike, scheduled for between midnight and midnight today, covers all health professionals working in the National Health Service (SNS) in the region (corresponding to the district of Faro), who are demanding, among other demands, the hiring of more staff to stop the burnout they say they are being subjected to.