The Society of Independent Physicians (SIM) today expressed to the Assistant Secretary of State and Justice (SEAJ) its concern about the “extraordinarily dangerous” situation in the prison health system, specifically in the field of psychiatry.
Speaking to the Lusa agency at the end of a meeting at the Ministry of Justice, SIM Secretary General Jorge Roque da Cunha said that SEAJ took on the obligation to submit a proposal soon to open tenders for the recruitment of doctors. They specialize in the prison system, and they are psychiatrists.
According to SIM, the psychiatric wards of the Pricisio de Caxias Hospital, which can accommodate 50 patients, have 80 hospitalized patients, a third of whom are considered unaccountable. Due to a lack of conditions, two of the six psychiatrists left, at the time Roque Da Cunha estimated that “10 psychiatrists would be needed”.
Roque da Cunha considered that the situation had worsened since the country’s three centers of psychiatric hospitals – Magalhaes Lemos (Porto), Sobral Cid (Coimbra) and Julio de Matos (Lisbon) were overwhelmed.
According to the Secretary General of SIM, there is an “urgent need to recruit psychiatrists”, as well as physicians in internal medicine, neurology and dental care, among other fields.
Another need that the union conveyed to SEAJ related to the need for the Department of Justice to create incentives to march doctors who provide service in the prison system, because at the moment there is “no progress” or “professional evaluation”.
Roque da Cunha demystified the notion that the National Health Service (SNS) alone could solve the health problem in the prison system, arguing that if the SNS could not even respond to the needs of the general population, it would be much more difficult. with prison inmates.
In view of the commitment of the Ministry of Justice to submit a proposal to solve the problems posed, the Secretary General of the SIM Association will propose to the National Secretariat of the Union, once again, to “strengthen dialogue” with the government, since it has now postponed the strike that was considered for the psychiatric service of the Hospital de Caxias.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
