The government signs contracts worth 70.2 million euros from the Rehabilitation Fund to rehabilitate and establish new health centers – Al Observer

The Ministers of Health and Regional Cohesion signed the contracts on Tuesday Establishing new health centers and rehabilitating existing unitson one Investment of about 70.2 million EUR from the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR).

Health Minister Ana Paula Martins and Deputy Regional Cohesion Minister Manuel Castro Almeida signed the project contracts Establishing and rehabilitating 68 health centersin total investment 70.2 million eurosOf this, 44.191 million are for new equipment and about 26 million are for improving existing equipment.

These projects are part of the total 124 new health centersin investment 272.8 million eurosAnd the rehabilitation of 347 existing units with a budget of 274.9 million euros.

The contracts signed, according to the Ministries of Health and Regional Cohesion, refer to 68 projects located in the regions of Lisbon, Vale do Tejo, Alentejo and Algarve, while projects will be signed in the central and northern regions at the end of the week. , totaling more than €547 million for primary care infrastructure.

The 68 projects located in the regions of Lisbon, Vale do Tejo, Alentejo and Algarve include 33 municipalities and three entities of the National Health Service (SNS) – the Instituto Nacional de Sudi dotor Ricardo Jorge, the Local Health Unit (ULS) of the Alentejo Coast and the ULS of Lessería.

in Signing contracts in the Infarmed hallin the Lisbon Health Park, the mayors of Alcanina, Almerem, Amadora, Arruda dos Vinhos, Azambuja, Bombaral, Cadaval, Castro Verde, Coroche, Ferreira do Zésaire, Mora, Oeiras, Ourem, Palmilla, Río Mayor, Salvatierra de Magos, Santarém, Seixal, Serpa, Sintra, Viana do Alentejo, Vila Franca de Zira, Vila Real de Santo Antonio and Almada.

According to the government, The program aims to “finance a range of reforms and investments in the field of health system sustainability.”and strengthening primary health care, integrated continuing care, palliative care, mental health and digital transformation, with an implementation deadline of June 30, 2026.

Hey Deputy Minister and Territorial Cohesion He stressed that the Permanent Response Plan is “a reform and investment plan, and it has an intangible element of reforms,” such as “decentralization in the field of health, which was completed a few days ago” and for which “713 million euros were allocated, which are still in Brussels.” But the executive branch “will immediately request it.”

“I would like to point out that without reforms there will be no funds from the replenishment program.”Manuel Castro Almeida stressed, assuming the government’s commitment “to implementing the poverty reduction program in its reform and investment aspects.”

Hey Then the governor asked the mayors That, just as “there was diligence in evaluating requests” for intervention in 471 health centers, “it was necessary to be diligent in launching the works,” including launching “tenders in the summer,” as they were “at the maximum” to be able to complete the contracts, Due to the “public contracting emergency”.

Castro Almeida also considered that “the government did a good job.” Previous statement by Antônio Costa when he “chose to put poverty reduction funds in areas not traditionally included in structural funds, such as health”.

“this The government will be responsible for implementing what the previous government did It is programmed and I have no intention. What I really do not want is to undo what was done and go back and forth. The country does not benefit from that,” the government official confirmed, adding that there may be “small actions” and “small adjustments,” but “without Questioning the central choices that have been made.”

a The Minister of Health thanks the municipal councils The ULS has developed work in the field of health care transformation, highlighting that “the overall plan for health care contains a range of reforms and investments”, particularly in relation to primary and ambulatory care, which “is one of the most fundamental areas for health care sustainability.” .

But Ana Paula Martins also pointed out, in addition to primary care, investment “in continuing care, palliative care, mental health care and also in terms of digital transformation.”

For the minister SNS is a network and network means cohesionFor this reason, of course, the adoption of municipal health plans, especially with an emphasis on preventive health, which are largely implemented in close proximity to each other, constitutes a “central and very important instrument” for improving health care provision.

In addition to betting on “Strengthening family doctors in the NHS”The governor considered that the poverty reduction strategy will allow us to move forward and implement the planned investments “which are timely The previous government I was able to bring it into the area Lisbon, Tagus Valley and health“.