The future closure of the Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital, in Madeira, and its conversion into housing with controlled costs is no longer a hypothetical scenario, but a political decision taken by the Regional Government of Madeira, with a defined timetable and direct impact on the financing of the new hospital unit in the region.
The confirmation was given by the president of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, who definitively ruled out other uses for the building currently in operation in Funchal, highlighting that the property’s fate is associated with its sale and the financial strategy for the new Madeira Central and University Hospital.
Sale only happens at the end of the decade
According to Jornal da Madeira, despite the decision being made, the Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital building will only be sold in 2030, remaining in operation until the new regional hospital unit becomes fully operational.
According to the same source, the property’s destination after sale will be housing at controlled costs, ruling out scenarios such as transformation into a home or alternative social equipment, hypotheses that have been considered in the public space.
Statements leave little room for doubt
On the sidelines of the 1st Living Care Forum, in Câmara de Lobos, Miguel Albuquerque was clear about the outcome of the process. “Utility is what is already included in the disposal of that space”, he stated, in statements cited by the newspaper.
The president of the regional executive reinforced the position by guaranteeing that “it has already been decided” and that any alternative would be “out of the question”, explaining that solutions, such as conversion into a home, would imply “increased costs” for the region.
It should be noted that the funds resulting from the sale of the building will not remain at the regional level, being used to amortize part of the costs associated with the construction of the new Central and University Hospital of Madeira.
The same source states that this financial mechanism is part of a broader understanding between the Regional Government and the Portuguese State, related to the support granted for the new health infrastructure.
Decision that is not recent
Contrary to the perception created by the public announcement, a government source explained that the sale of the building is not the result of a recent or unilateral decision by the executive led by Miguel Albuquerque. According to the same source, the sale of the hospital was already foreseen in a resolution of the Council of Ministers dated August 4, 2023, a document that outlines the financing model for the new hospital unit.
The publication writes that the resolution published in Diário da República establishes that 50% of the costs of the new hospital will be calculated after the sale of the current building of Hospital Dr. Nélio Mendonça. The funds resulting from this sale must be fully allocated to the Portuguese State, within the scope of the financial support granted to the Autonomous Region of Madeira.
Political reactions were not long in coming
Despite the legal and financial framework, the announcement generated negative reactions in various political quarters. According to the same newspaper, all opposition parties expressed criticism of the decision announced by the president of the Regional Government.
Reactions focused mainly on the symbolism of closing a historic hospital unit and doubts regarding the social impact of its disposal, despite the Government guaranteeing that the process is integrated into a broader strategy for health and housing.
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