The potential reduction of consultation hours for oncologist Rui Dinis at the Local Health Unit (ULS) of Alto Alentejo is generating strong concern among users in Portalegre. Citizens launched a public petition with more than 2,600 signatures titled "Say no to the reduction of oncology consultations by Dr. Rui Dinis" and organized a demonstration scheduled for October 8 at 8:20 PM at Praça da República in Portalegre, under the slogan "Everyone to the Square – We want Dr. Rui Dinis to continue regularly following up with his patients."
The initiative is being coordinated by Ana Maria Lopes, one of the organizers, who considers the oncology service at Portalegre Hospital a "service of excellence" and questions the need for restructuring. The responsible party argued that strengthening oncology care can and should exist, but in a complementary way to the existing structure, highlighting that Rui Dinis has 16 years of work at the unit and is described as a doctor with an impeccable professional record and great humanism.
Faced with the mobilization, the ULS of Alto Alentejo issued a statement denying that oncology care provision would be reduced, stating that a set of measures for the reinforcement and development of the Oncology Unit is being prepared, including differentiated human resources and improvements in infrastructure. However, Ana Maria Lopes considers that doubts still exist and that management should provide more clarification, with Rádio Campanário having requested an interview with the President of the Board of Directors without obtaining a response.
