The national strike by public sector nurses today saw a participation rate of 49.5% across 30 Local Health Units, which include health centers and hospitals, as well as oncology institutes, according to the government.

Key Facts

• 49.5% participation rate in the national nurses’ strike.
• 79.1% of scheduled consultations were conducted.
• Only 34.9% of scheduled surgeries were performed.
• The strike was called by the Portuguese Nurses’ Union (SEP).
• Nurses are demanding career valuation and better working conditions.
• The SEP has threatened further actions in August if demands are not met.

Strike Participation and Impact

According to data from the Ministry of Health provided to Lusa, the majority of scheduled consultations (79.1%) were conducted today. However, the percentage of scheduled surgeries that were performed was less than half, at 34.9%.

An earlier assessment by the Portuguese Nurses’ Union (SEP), which called for the protest, indicated a general participation rate of 80%. This high level of participation led to the closure of operating rooms and affected health centers and inpatient services in hospitals.

Reasons Behind the Strike

Nurses in the National Health Service (SNS) are on strike to demand career valuation and improved working conditions. The SEP called for the strike on July 16, citing the government’s failure to present a proposal for changes to salary scales, which led to the suspension of negotiations scheduled for that day.

Government Response

The union met again on Wednesday with the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins. However, SEP President José Carlos Martins told journalists that the strike would continue because the government’s proposal remained “unacceptable and intolerable.”

The Minister of Health expressed a desire for negotiations to meet the “just expectations of professionals” but noted that any agreement would depend on the country’s budgetary capacity.

Future Actions

The SEP has warned of further actions in August, including ten partial strikes starting on Monday, if the Ministry of Health does not move towards “sensible, fair, and reasonable positions.”