The ERS – Health Regulatory Entity reveals that there are hospitals and health centers making it difficult for users to access healthcare. It’s unconstitutional.
After all, the program continues not only to not solve problems in the National Health Service (SNS), but also appears to worsen them.
Users’ right to access hospitals and health centers is not being fulfilled.
According to the last ERS assessment (not yet published) to which you have already had access, doctors violating the program rules, refusing care for people referred by the SNS24 Line.
This program, which should be the “gateway to the SNS”, was created last year. The patient calls the SNS 24 line, is assessed over the phone, and can then be advised to carry out self-care, referred to an emergency room or a health center (even if you are not registered there).
But the report shows that this is not what is happening.
Health “obstacles”
There are units violating the Constitutionthe Charter of Users’ Rights and the ordinance that regulates this program, for refusing care to userssince no one “can be left without assistance”, even if they are not referenced.
There are still criticism of professionals for not knowing the program’s rulesnor situations in which a person can go to an emergency room without referral.
According to Diário de Notícias, fines can reach up to 44,000 euros.
The regulator’s report also points out other situations in which it was access to those who arrived at health centers directly with clinical complaints was barred (and that you have not called SNS Line 24).
There are also cases in which the SNS24 Line referred patients to units with no capacity or with closed specialties, and directed people to hospitals more than 80 kilometers from their area of residence.
