In a statement, the BE recalls that since 1 June, "hundreds of" cancer patients from the region "continue to be forced" to travel in order to continue with radiotherapy treatments.

According to the BE of Évora, the service is being provided in "Santarém, Faro or Lisbon", first due to "equipment renewal" and now, "apparently due to operational problems".

“In fact, the Local Health Unit of Central Alentejo (ULSAC) has temporarily suspended radiotherapy treatments to replace the two treatment equipment and linear accelerators, a public investment under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), estimated at four million euros, even though the radiotherapy service has been concessioned for years to Joaquim Chaves Oncologia S.A.”, the document reads.

In parallel, and according to the BE of Évora, ULSAC launched a new tender in February for a new concession of the Radiotherapy Service “for four years, renewable for one more, for the amount of €18,658,209.00”.

This tender, which also included Joaquim Chaves SA, was won by Altrys Portugal, a company of Spanish origin, which had previously held the concession for this service,” they add.

The tender “will have ended up being annulled”, according to the party structure, “allegedly by the Court of Auditors, without the grounds for the annulment being known”.

“On ​​the other hand, it is necessary that the jobs of radiotherapy technicians be secured. The workers of the unit, although so far their employment contract with Joaquim Chaves SA has not been affected, also do not know what the near future holds for them”, they warn.

Credits: envato elements; Author: SteveAllenPhoto999;

For the BE of Évora, the concession to private entities of radiotherapy treatments for cancer patients in Alentejo “does not guarantee” that the Radiotherapy Unit of the Hospital do Espírito Santo in Évora “will fulfil its function without setbacks”, “nor does it give” cancer patients and their families the “tranquillity that is required”.

In this regard, the Évora District Coordinating Committee of the Left Bloc challenges the chairman of the board of directors of ULSAC to "promote the reopening" of the Radiotherapy Unit at Évora Hospital, "adopting the necessary measures" so that it "autonomously fulfils" its responsibilities in providing radiotherapy care.

The Bloco de Esquerda of Évora also challenges the ULSAC administration to inform patients, workers and the general public, "in a transparent manner," of the measures it intends to adopt.