Guarda challenges the downgrading of the Pediatric Service and demands a review of the Hospital Referral Network.

The proposed new Hospital Referral Network in Pediatrics, currently under public consultation, is generating strong opposition in Guarda . The document, which assigns Level I to the Local Health Unit (ULS) of Guarda, is seen by several local entities as an unjustified devaluation of the hospital's work and care capacity.

According to the technical indicators, the ULS of Guarda should be classified as level IIa, similar to other units, and not as a level Ib hospital, as stated in the proposal.

In unison, the Municipality, the Local Health Unit (ULS), and the PSD of Guarda demand an urgent review of the proposed Hospital Referral Network and the reinstatement of the IIa classification for the Pediatric Service.

For local entities, the Ministry of Health's decision threatens equity in access to healthcare, territorial cohesion, and the future of maternity and pediatrics in the region —essential pillars for retaining families and ensuring dignity in the country's interior.