Dentists are working illegally in Portugal's National Health Service, according to Miguel Pavão, the president of the Order of Dentists. He said many practitioners in the public health system currently operate without formal employment contracts.
Pavão highlighted the Local Health Unit of Alto Douro and Trás-os-Montes as a key example. The unit is scheduled to answer in court next month regarding a lawsuit involving 12 doctors identified by the Working Conditions Authority.
Special career decree-law
The Order president expects these illegal working conditions to end once President of the Republic António José Seguro enacts a decree-law creating a special career structure for dentists in the health service. Pavão said the new career path is essential to eliminate job insecurity affecting most of the 150 dentists working in the National Health Service.
Healthcare professionals noted that 90 days would be more than enough time to put the new special career framework into practice across the national health network.
