PS: Porto voted for Fernando Araújo – who will not be deputy after all

Former NHS director was elected, but will continue to be a doctor and teacher: “It’s the best way to defend the NHS.”

The first and former director of the National Health Service (NHS), Fernando Araújo, head of the list by PS in Porto in the last legislatures, announced today that It will not be deputy and will maintain functions at the São João Local Health Unit (ULSSJ).

“After a careful reflection and personal consideration, I understood that The best way to continue to defend the NHS would be to keep me at ULS São João and at the University of Porto School of Medicine, as a doctor and university professornot assuming, therefore, the place of deputy in the Assembly of the Republic (AR), ”writes Fernando Araújo in a note sent to the Lusa Agency.

The former director of the ENS executive direction, who was secretary of state and health when Adalberto Campos Fernandes was minister, led the list of candidates for deputies by the Domingo of Sunday Legislature district.

The PS did not win in: it was 24.04% of the votes, against the 34.22% of the winner AD. THE PS got 11 deputies (In a list led by Fernando Araújo) and AD reached 15 deputies.

In a note that begins to thank Pedro Nuno Santos, the socialist candidate for defeated Prime Minister, for the trust and opening of the Socialist Party, Fernando Araújo states that, “throughout the campaign, in each event, square or anonymous conversation” felt “the affection of so many people” and received “valuable suggestions that show that civic participation is alive in the country”.

“To all who trusted the PS with their vote – especially to voters in the district of Porto – I leave a deep thanks. We had the opportunity to present our electoral program, with passion and constructively, defending the proposals that would best serve the interests of the Portuguese, ”says, then explain why he prefers to maintain the functions as a doctor and teacher.

“The PS will have an excellent parliamentary representation through the district of Porto, which will be heard in defense of the values ​​advocated in this project,” he says.

The doctor who chaired the board of directors of the São João Hospital in the most intense period of the pandemic and is the author of the NHS reform that translated into the creation of local health units, gathering hospital care and primary health care, says he takes with him “a unique experience and the pride of having participated in this democratic walk” and ensures that that will continue to “fight” where you feel that your “contribution can be more useful, by a quality NHS”.

“I believe in an NHS with the best health professionals, motivated, with a life project, and that is accessible to all Portuguese, regardless of the economic or status, oriented exclusively by their clinical needs,” he concluded.