The ULS of the Algarve denied having prohibited its workers from attending the Medicine course at the University of Algarve, clarifying that the statements by the president of the Board of Directors, Tiago Botelho, were improperly interpreted and taken out of context. On Tuesday, the Socialist Party (PS) had questioned the Minister of Health about the alleged decision to prevent workers from maintaining their employment contract while attending the course.
The local health unit emphasized that it never adopted any deliberation, guidance, or internal position that generally prohibits its workers from attending the Medicine Course at the University of Algarve, nor did it determine the mandatory termination of their employment contracts for this reason.
The ULS explained that Tiago Botelho's reference aimed to highlight that attending a course with the high level of demand and dedication inherent to medical training is hardly compatible, in practice, with the simultaneous exercise of regular professional activity. The institution also clarified that attending a higher education course is not considered a situation of function accumulation.
The ULS of the Algarve follows the guidance of the Faculty of Medicine that students dedicate themselves exclusively to the course, understanding that this constitutes the most favorable solution for academic success. However, it considered the attendance by professionals already integrated into the institution to be positive, as it represents an opportunity to increase the number of doctors in the region, and showed willingness for them to collaborate through partial service provision.
