The Ministry of Health is expected to start the exceptional negotiation process with healthcare professionals on 27 May.

"Today's presentation meetings took place on the basis of constructive dialogue between the parties, and the Minister of Health has already shared the intention to start the exceptional negotiation process on 27 May, a process that is expected to take place on the basis of good faith, commitment and responsibility of the parties", reads a note sent by the ministry in question to Notícias ao Minuto, this Friday.

The information is given after the minister, Ana Paula Martins, met with the nine union structures that represent healthcare professionals: doctors, nurses and pharmacists.

The purpose of today's meeting was to "mutually present and receive the main contributions" of the union structures, which are: – Independent Union of Doctors (SIM), National Federation of Doctors (FNAM), Democratic Union of Nurses of Portugal (SINDEPOR), Independent Union of Nursing Professionals (SIPE), Independent Union of All United Nurses (SITEU) and National Union of Nurses (SNE), Union of Portuguese Nurses (SEP), Portuguese Union Association of Nurses (ASPE) and National Union of Pharmacists (SNF).

"In line with the Government Programme, the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, reiterated, in these meetings, the urgency of promoting 'Urgent, Quality Health for All' through multiple sustainable measures, starting now with the new SNS Emergency Plan", reads the note, which adds that the "importance of promoting adequate working conditions, as well as, as far as possible, meeting the expectations of healthcare professionals" was also underlined.

It should be recalled that one of the unions present at the meeting, the SEP, maintained the strike scheduled for 10 May, even after meeting with the minister.

"The Ministry of Health did not commit today, by 10 May, the day of the national nurses' strike, to establish the set of matters to be negotiated, the topics to be negotiated and the negotiation agenda", explained the president of SEP, José Carlos Martins, leaving the ministry in Lisbon.

"The problems are so well-known and so serious, there are so many injustices and so much discrimination, that nurses want answers much sooner", he stressed.

The national strike is scheduled for 10 May, with a gathering at 11 am at Campo Pequeno, in Lisbon.

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