Order of Physicians contests changes to waiting lists for surgeries defined by new decrees

The official points out that with this change, approximately 200 to 300 thousand interventions may be excluded from the registry. For him, there is a risk of 'not monitoring this activity' and consequently failing to ascertain delays. Carlos Cortes emphasizes that these patients still need treatment, occupying care capacity and awaiting service, but their visibility in official records becomes 'hidden'.

Transparency and Equity in the System

The spokesperson strongly defends that patients do not cease to exist or need care just because they are not listed. He criticizes the loss of visibility in monitoring mechanisms, stating that this is unacceptable in a public system that must be rigorous, transparent, and equitable. The Order of Physicians demands the 'immediate review and clarification' of these decrees to ensure that all patients requiring surgery remain in formal, auditable, and transparent systems.

Importance of the LIC

The Surgery Registration List (LIC) is viewed by the Order as a crucial tool for clinical governance. It allows tracking the patient's journey, supervising compliance with Guaranteed Maximum Response Times, evaluating institutional performance, and identifying disparities in access. Cortes cites examples such as ophthalmology, dermatology, and oncology, where even a minimal delay in minor surgery can have irreversible consequences for the individual's life. Finally, he concludes that access to surgery must be monitored rigorously, as this is directly linked to people's health and, at times, their very lives, thus preventing the creation of inequalities between patients or institutions.