nOn the first day of voting on the 2024 state budget (OE024), the Socialist proposal was approved with the Socialist Party voting in favour, Livre e Chega abstaining, and PSD, IL, PCP and BE abstaining.
The socialist proposal states that “during 2024, the power to appoint members of the administrative bodies of Portuguese oncology institutes and local health units” rests with the executive management of the SNS.
In the explanatory memorandum, the Socialist Deputies point out that the Council of Ministers’ decision of July 13 grants this executive directive this jurisdiction.
In September, the SNS’s executive director, Fernando Araújo, announced a “major reform” from January 2024 with the creation of 31 ULS – which consolidates hospitals and health centers under the same institution and management – which will join the eight already in existence.
In the memorandum justifying the proposal, the Socialists stress that “the diversity and complexity” of the new vacancy at ULS “requires an adjustment with respect to its governing bodies,” setting out the possibility of appointing a maximum of six executive members, depending on the size and complexity of the healthcare organization.
Therefore, the Board of Directors must include, in addition to the President of the ULS, up to two Clinical Directors, a Nurse Director, a member proposed by the member of government responsible for the financial area and a member proposed by the inter-municipal community or metropolitan area, depending on the location of the ULS.
For the PS, “it is important to ensure that the NHS Executive retains the power to appoint members of ULS governing bodies.”
The measure has been criticized by the Public Security Directorate, which this week called for the suspension of the future entry into force of the ULS, scheduled for January 1, or at least the appointment of its leaders on a replacement basis.
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