The leader of PS-Madeira, Célia Pessegueiro, called for more professionals in the island's health centres, particularly family doctors, and greater investment in primary healthcare. She made the remarks at the opening of the party's parliamentary conference, themed "Health Without Barriers."
Pessegueiro argued that closer follow-up of patients and communities at the primary level tends to reduce treatment needs and hospital admissions. She also stressed the urgency of addressing so-called problematic discharges, which continue to strain emergency and hospital services.
She called for a clear plan so the issue does not carry over into the new hospital, which will have fewer beds than current facilities. She proposed separate spaces for patients who still need care that cannot be provided at home. Waiting lists for consultations, tests and surgery were also flagged as a concern.