This item prevents private sector doctors from referring patients to the public hospital where they work. “Solution to a problem that never existed.”
Just over a month ago, and despite having doubts, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa promulgated the new National System for Access to Consultations and Surgeries (SINACC).
It is waiting list management system It will replace the Integrated Surgery Registration Management System (SIGIC), which has existed since 2004.
SINACC was due to come into operation at the end of November, however it was postponed until the end of 2025, and in the meantime postponed again to April this year.
Even without coming into force, there is an item that is already generating public discussion: the rule that prevents private sector doctors from referring patients to public hospitals where they work.
Xavier Barreto, president of the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH), recalls: “Every day we receive (in public hospitals) thousands of patients referred by the private sector; patients that the private sector cannot treat because, often, we don’t have the technology, the equipment.”
“With this decree, we no longer treat them. These patients stay completely helpless.” continues the person in charge, who remembers that many patients do not even have a family doctor.
“It’s a solution to a problem that never existed. I hope the Government realizes the mistake it made and takes a step back”, continues Xavier Barreto, at .
Joana Mourão, coordinator of the new program, ensures that SINACC is designed to avoid conflict of interests, bring greater equity and to avoid the “feeling of favoring one patient over another”.
