Courtesy / ULS São João
Hospital administrations have to break the law to get what patients need. More than 2 thousand pensioners have a “brutal impact” on the SNS.
In the second half of each year, it usually happens: hospitals of the National Health Service (SNS) stay no budget to buy medicines.
In 2026, we are still in February and, in the second month of the year, this scenario is already occurring in several hospitals.
The indication appears in , which reminds that this unusual situation is related to the year of cost containment in the NHS: the State Budget for this year foresees a 10% cut (800 million) in spending on goods and services in the NHS.
To turn the situation around, and for patients to have what they need, there are hospital administrations violating the law and to assume financial responsibilities themselves.
Xavier Barreto, president of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators, Never experienced a scenario like this in February. But he believes that the Government “will take the initiative to replenish the funds” – either with a change in the Budget, or with financial injections.
The Ministry of Health, faced with the question, responded that they are specific and transitory cases.
They are associated “with the closing of the economic year” and “with normal adjustments arising from budget execution”, noted the Ministry.
The provision of health care to users is “safeguarded”, assured the Government – which admits to strengthening the budget.
Many retired
On another subject, but also related to the SNS, he highlights that 2,419 SNS professionals retired over the past year.
Many are specialist doctors (570) and nurses (541). In other words, in both classes, together, 1,111 professionals retired.
Carlos Cortes, president of the Order of Doctors, and Luís Filipe Barreira, president of the Order of Nurses, think that these numbers cause a “brutal impact” no SNS.
