The Municipal Council of Azambuja will establish a collaboration protocol with the private clinic Fisiomedicall to offer free consultations to residents with economic difficulties. The proposal was presented by councilor Ana Coelho, responsible for the health department, who explained that the protocol aims to address difficulties in accessing healthcare in the municipality, namely the lack of family doctors and some specialties.
The protocol provides for the availability of up to six free consultations per month, covering general and family medicine consultations and various specialties. Ana Coelho clarified that the consultations will have no cost for the beneficiaries and that, as long as there is justification, the same resident may use this service more than once.
During the discussion, PSD councilor Margarida Lopes praised the clinic's availability, considering the initiative altruistic, since only Fisiomedicall provides the service without any counterpart. Ana Sofia Pires, from Chega, also welcomed the protocol, but questioned whether there was any financial counterpart and advocated that other private units in the municipality be involved to increase the response capacity.
Ana Coelho assures that there is no financial counterpart for the clinic and revealed that the municipality has been maintaining contacts with other clinics. If these express availability, the council intends to extend this experience to other units and parishes in the municipality.
