Slowly, slowly, government changes hierarchy in state hospitals

In just over two years ‘in power’, the minority coalition AD government has changed two thirds of state hospital administrations.

Of the 26 new presidents, 18 have links to the PSD and CDS parties of the coalition. Some took office without having any experience in management, or healthcare.

And this is what is generating ‘discomfort’.

The issue first came to light in interview with president of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators, Xavier Barreto, who stressed that “if we do not depoliticise appointments to many of our ULS (initials for local health units, or hospitals), and ensure that people are appointed based on their experience, their CV, and even their proven track record, we will always have problems in management.”

The government may see the situation differently: intent on a masterplan to reform the state health sector, it may see ‘party supporters in positions of power’ as a supreme advantage.

Certainly, the PSD (the overwhelmingly ‘majority partner in the coalition’) denounced “politicisation” of the health hierarchy when it was in opposition, recalls Observador. But now, 69% of hospital administrators nominated by the government are ‘close to the PSD’. Many times they have substituted former PS picks.

Will it make the health service stronger? Better?

This is where the discomfort comes in. Among the new faces drafted in are “former MPs, mayors who interrupted their terms (to get this potentially better-paid, more prestigious role), unsuccessful municipal candidates (who had nothing to lose), and leaders of local PSD structures, explains Observador.

CRESAP, the Commission for Recruitment and Selection for Public Administration, went along with the whole process, “even where the individuals chosen had no experience in management or healthcare”.

Up until now, media treatment of this issue has been ‘soft’; just presenting the situation – not passing comments – but Público reports that the apparent purge is not yet over. There are currently six further hospital boards “awaiting renewal or replacement”.

The bottom line, the paper adds, is that the ‘worst headaches’ when it comes to the functioning of hospitals, are still coming from structures where health minister Ana Paula Martins has already nominated new teams. Put another way (Público’s words) “the greatest problems continue to reside in the management capacity of the professionals chosen…”

So if the seemingly political shuffle-around is not improving the running of the country’s state hospitals and healthcare units, what is it all about?

Sources: SIC Notícias/ Público/ Observador/ Executive Digest

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.