João Lourenço was speaking to the press at the end of a working visit he carried out this Monday to the province of Bengo, around 68 kilometers north of Luanda, the country's capital, where he inaugurated a hospital unit and a housing center.
The head of state stressed that the Government is "investing heavily" in the social sector, particularly in health, with new hospital units in several provinces, "very well equipped, with the training and admission of health professionals".
According to João Lourenço, despite the investments, diseases will continue to exist and "what is needed is for the national health system to have the capacity to treat patients as far as possible".
"[People will] continue to die, this is human nature. Expecting our health system to be perfect at the moment, I think, is asking too much", he said.
"We do admit that these cases [of negligence] still exist, as they do in any part of the world. Medical negligence exists all over the world and we will continue to pursue them, the important thing is that the necessary measures are taken", he added.
The President recalled the most recent case, "of mistreatment of a patient, a citizen, who went to a hospital unit", stressing that the competent authorities took the necessary measures.
"If there had been impunity, then yes, I would be perfectly right to say what I am saying, but there was no impunity, therefore, the people who were responsible for this bad treatment of the citizen were held responsible", he stressed.
Some cases of medical negligence have been reported by families on social media, with one of the most recent resulting in the death of a man outside a hospital due to lack of care, and another involving a pregnant woman, who was reportedly refused help at various hospital units that she sought.
The new Bengo General Hospital, located in the city of Caxito, capital of the province, opened this Monday by João Lourenço, represented a State investment of 63.1 million dollars, with a capacity of 200 beds and general medicine services, pediatrics and surgery.
State will stop building centralities
Regarding housing projects, the President said that it is the State's responsibility to build social housing, which is not the case in the centralities in which the Government has been investing.
"The time will come – and it is not very far away – when the State will stop building centralities and we have been warning you", highlighted João Lourenço, guaranteeing that the commitment to building the centralities that have already been announced will be maintained, at least more five.
During the visit, the governor of Bengo, Maria Antónia Nelumba, asked the President to review the budget for the province in 2024, which suffered a significant cut compared to the current year.
Regarding the request, João Lourenço said that the cut was general and that going back on the decision "would be a very bad precedent", stressing that "those affected have the right to complain".
"The ministers themselves who took the decision in the Council of Ministers to make these budget cuts also complained and, however, approved the measure in the Council of Ministers. Everyone has the right to complain, now to correct or not to correct, it all depends on resources. Performing the miracle of transforming roses into bread, I still haven't learned how to do it", he declared.
