Speaking to Lusa, Paulo Morgado said that so far only three of the applications for the temporary mobility programme for health care in the region have met the requirements, but said he expected more candidates to appear by September 30, when the programme is in effect.

According to the official, although the list of needs prepared by the Algarve Hospital and University Centre (CHUA) identifies the need for 66 doctors for the region in the summer, this does not mean that hospitals are unable to ensure services.

"The goal was to significantly reduce the number of overtime hours and the use of external service providers. With the adhesion we have, we could not reduce what we wanted" said Paulo Morgado.

According to Paulo Morgado, several applications were received, but not always suited to the needs of hospitals, or were from physicians linked to the National Health Service (SNS), three were validated: one in Paediatrics, one in Oncology and one in General and Family Medicine.

The specialist in Paediatrics began his duties on August 1 at the Hospital de Portimão, where he will stay until the end of the month. He is enjoying the possibility of free accommodation, an option included in the order of the Ministry of Health, for the first time this year.

Despite considering this to be a valid initiative, the regional secretary of the Independent Doctors Union (SIM), João Dias, told Lusa that the problem of shortage of doctors in the Algarve is "structural" and "cannot be solved with "patches".

"The initiative may have some validity, but in practice does not solve the problem of a shortage of doctors" he says, arguing that "it is more than demonstrated that these incentives do not serve the region" and that the issue of lack of professionals has to be faced "for the whole year".

For João Dias, the lack of investment and organisation of the SNS in the Algarve means that most doctors "opt for places where they have better conditions", in addition to the enticement of private hospitals, which can offer better salaries.

"It seems that we have two countries: the Tagus up and the Tagus down. There is no investment, no organisation to provide conditions of attraction" he concludes.