Africa-Press – Cape verde. The PAICV highlighted today that the government’s list of failures in the health sector is “giant” and questioned Cape Verdeans’ satisfaction with the system. The largest opposition party stressed that the government “promises and does not deliver”, “makes and does not fulfill” the promises made.
In the initial intervention of the debate with the Prime Minister, on “Health and Development”, the PAICV deputy, Josina Fortes, expressed happiness with obtaining the certificate of a malaria-free country. However, she noted that the achievements could be expanded if the government applied the same acumen to resolve outstanding issues in other areas of the sector, pointing out a list of pending issues.
Among the pending issues, PAICV highlighted the case of the Outpatient Center at Hospital Batista de Sousa (HBS), which, according to Josina Fortes, “due to incompetence or lack of interest”, has been closed for more than a year, in the face of the government’s deafening silence. . The PAICV also accuses that the same is observed in relation to the Health Centers of Palmeira, in Sal, Achada Monte São Miguel, Monte Sossego in São Vicente, Ribeira das Patas, Santa Catarina do Fogo.
“I think you were reading the speech you gave in the 2021 State of the Nation. You said exactly the same thing. The list of flaws in the government’s commitments in this sector is gigantic. And yet, the minister comes here to state that the health system is stronger. And here we would like to ask you what data were you based on to make such a statement? Since the latest data released is from 2020, that is, national psychiatric treatment does not make or produce data. Does the Minister really believe that Cape Verdeans are satisfied with the health system?”, he asked.
In the list of pending issues, PAICV highlighted that “HBS continues to wait for the miraculous” CT scan device that was due to arrive in January 2021, but has been moved to January 2022, 2023, 2024… the same in relation to the RX device “.
Josina Fortes also informed that HBS is without coverage for many medical specialties and to make matters worse, at the moment, the health unit is working with eight fewer doctors, due to sick leave.
“How can the Prime Minister of this nation explain that only nurses (in the context of Covid-19) at Hospital Agostinho Neto received payment for overtime and those on the other islands did not receive payment for the same work provided. But there is still more, This government fired, sent home an average of 500 nurses, and then came out to say that it was going to hire 500 health professionals, (if it weren’t a serious matter, it would be comical)”.
Regarding the classification of Specialist Doctors, Josina Fortes says that some have already received a tranche of the amount, but without an official nomination in the Official Bulletin, and have only paid the salary difference, leaving adjustments to additional remuneration unpaid. The weekly rest for nurses, agreed to start on January 1st, the PAICV deputy highlighted that it has not yet been fulfilled in any health structure.
“It’s a government that promises and doesn’t deliver, assumes and doesn’t deliver. Servants receive an amount below that stipulated in the Public Service, as the Ministry of Health pays them on the basis of a revoked decree and in view of this gravity we would like to hear your explanation “.
PAICV also questioned the Government in relation to mental health, as there were flaws in relation to medication.
“We are using mental health medicines that have already been excluded from many countries because they are inefficient and some cause other types of problems. We would like to know what you have to say as you announced that you have national coverage for psychiatric treatment (.. .) Prime Minister, this Government has failed and the worst thing is that it has not accepted its failures”.
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