The Portuguese National Health Service faces a deep crisis that will not be solved with superficial measures. The article argues that contingency plans, administrative reorganizations, press conferences, or PowerPoint presentations are insufficient to restore the normal functioning of the health system.
The central thesis of the text is that the Portuguese State needs to recognize a reality it has preferred to ignore: it also has to compete for health professionals. That is, it needs to offer attractive conditions to retain and attract doctors, nurses, and other health workers.
The article warns that, without a paradigm shift in this approach, the NHS will continue heading towards implosion. The original publication was made by the portal NoticiasLX, which highlighted the urgency of a deeper reflection on the future of the public health system in Portugal.
