The hospital units that will return to private management are those in Braga, Loures, Amadora-Sintra, Vila Franca de Xira and Garcia de Orta, which has always been under public management.

This is a “very important historic decision”, said the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, during the Council of Ministers briefing.

Leitão Amaro explained that two processes will be launched: the creation of a “price comparison mechanism with the public sector, to ensure that PPPs are managed in a cost-effective manner for taxpayers”, and that “specifications will be prepared”, so that international public tenders can be opened.

“Public-private partnerships (PPPs) in healthcare have been and will continue to be examples of state hospitals delivering better healthcare at a lower price for taxpayers,” said Leitão Amaro.

The Minister of the Presidency assures that it is not only with this measure that the government is “reinforcing the capacity of the State’s hospitals”, adding that the Executive approved in this same meeting two “very important investments in two hospitals”.

Leitão Amaro details that the Executive approved 30 million euros of investment in the new hospital in Viseu, in a technical center and in a radiotherapy center. To this amount “is added an effort of seven million to purchase very important equipment for the operation of the hospital and for the interior of the country”, says the Minister of the Presidency.

An additional investment of 32 million euros was also approved for the Évora hospital. “It is an essential reinforcement for this work to be carried out and for this region to have health care in a hospital that the people of Acre deserve to have,” said Leitão Amaro, who also highlighted a strengthening of the partnership with the São João de Deus Institute and the Hospital Sisters, dedicated to mental health care.

By taking this decision in the midst of the political crisis, after announcing the presentation of a motion of confidence – which, by all indications, will be rejected and lead to the fall of the government on Tuesday –, the Executive is trying to convey a message that it remains committed to governing and that it believes that the team will remain in office in a process that will be lengthy.