The National Health Service celebrates 47 years of existence this Tuesday. The date arrives at a time when the NHS faces a combination of structural problems that go far beyond the immediate response capacity in hospitals and health centers.
Health professionals, traditionally responsible for caring for the Portuguese, now find themselves in need of care themselves. The crisis in the NHS is described as a reflection of broader societal problems.
The article suggests that the public health system shows signs of exhaustion, with the central question being who takes care of those who have always been responsible for caring for the population.
The NHS, created to guarantee universal access to healthcare, faces challenges that call into question its sustainability and the quality of services provided to citizens.
