The PSD/CDS government's decision on new Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) is a new and serious step in the strategy to attack and destroy the NHS. An unacceptable decision that undermines the rights of the population in their access to healthcare and threatens the rights and working conditions of professionals. A decision that jeopardises the public interest and creates greater instability in the management of NHS units, in addition to the marked lack of human and financial resources and the wave of resignations and replacements of boards of directors. A decision that is all the more illegitimate when adopted by a defeated government just hours before it is due to be dismissed.
The government's intention to carry out yet another deal confirms its submission to the interests of the economic groups operating in this area. About a month ago, the head of one of the largest private groups said in an interview with the ECO newspaper: “I think it might make sense to do a PPP again, but in the current model it would never be the same PPP, because at the moment, at most, what I would be looking at is a ULS (Local Healthcare Unit).” The government is now hastily putting into practice this wish of the economic groups, which has been their aim and been preparing for a long time.
The PSD/CDS government, following on from the previous PS government, did not solve the problems of a shortage of healthcare professionals, maintained very low investment, limited autonomy, financially choked public healthcare institutions and centralised decisions in the executive board and the Ministry, creating huge difficulties for the NHS. It is the same government that is now concluding that the solution to the problems it created and worsened is to hand over public units to private economic groups.
Choosing management under the PPP model costs the State more, is harmful to users, weakens the rights of healthcare professionals and further shatters the response of the NHS. The PPP solution, cherished by the right-wing and the PS, which has boasted at various times that it was their governments that implemented this deal, is worse and more damaging to the public interest and the population.
The PCP rejects this choice because it is negative for the Country and because it is illegitimate. The PCP calls on professionals and users to resist this measure, urges the other political forces to speak out against this decision and hopes that the President of the Republic, within the framework of his own powers, will prevent its materialisation.
