Today, Paulo Cafôfo assumed PS-Madeira’s commitment to reduce waiting lists in Health, if he wins the elections on May 26th.
As highlighted in a note sent to the editorial team, this morning, the president of the PS-M and candidate for the presidency of the Regional Government visited the construction works of the Central and University Hospital of Madeira, noting that this infrastructure, which will only be possible thanks to the co-financing of 50% from the Government of the Republic of PS, hoping that this can also contribute to a “turning of the page in Health in the Region”.
On the occasion, the socialist leader recalled the promise made by Miguel Albuquerque in 2015 to end healthcare waiting lists, but found that, contrary to what was promised, they had increased.
“He had the ability to double the medical procedures on the waiting list,” said Paulo Cafôfo, adding that if Albuquerque was not able to solve the problem in eight years, he will not be able to do so now.
In this regard, it was noted that, according to data from 2023, waiting lists for appointments increased by 47%, with 45 thousand people waiting for an appointment. Furthermore, he continued, there are more than 18 thousand people on the waiting list for surgery.
“The health of Madeirans and Porto Santos cannot be on a waiting list. Health cannot wait”, he warned, considering it neither right nor fair that “people who do not have financial resources do not have access to healthcare and only those who have money can resort to private healthcare”. “With us, health will be for everyone, and not just for the rich or those who can resort to clinics or private hospitals”, he assured.
Paulo Cafôfo also stressed that the waiting lists will never end, but promised that, with a PS Government, they will be reduced, so that what we see now does not continue to happen. As he mentioned, while on the continent the average waiting time for surgery is three months, in Madeira it is 36 months.
