Moving medical specialists into administrative roles will not affects the level of care given at the National Hospital of Guido Valadares (HGNV) according to health minister Sergio da Costa Lobo.
Minister Lobo said services would continue as usual as HNGV was adequately staffed. He said the hospital only needed to reinforce equipment to support its services.
“We see staffing is adequate, that’s why I gave (the specialists) promotions,” he said.
“I think it is okay; they’ve had experience providing health services so they have the capacity to make good plans for HNGV.”
Minister Lobo said structural reform before the completion of a mandate was normal practice for institutions such as hospitals and would allow them to improve the quality of health services.
Member Commission F (for health, education, veterans’ and gender equality affairs) Member of Parliament (MP) Ilda Maria da Conçeição voiced concerns that the shuffle may cause people to be moved to positions beyond their level of education.
She said the government spent money employing medical staff to have them treat patients, not provide administrative services.
MP da Conceicao also pointed out that HNGV spokespeople were constantly complaining about shortages of medical staff.
“The impact of this will be a rise in medical malpractice as all the senior medics will be moved into administrative roles and the less experienced staff will have to take care of patients. If they get things wrong it will end up with deaths,” she said.
HNGV general director Dr Jose Antonio Gusmão acknowledged that the medical staff moved into administrative roles did not have management backgrounds, however he said he believed they would do their best to learn quickly.
“Honestly, I have no management background. I am an specialist of obstetrics and gynecology and I have worked as a doctor for long time, but I am willing to learn therefore I need financial and human resources advisors,” he said.
Dr Gusmão said as a specialist who loved his work, he would continue to practice in his field in his spare time outside his new managerial duties.
