Portugal Ministry of Health denies reduction in additional surgeries

Portugal's Ministry of Health has denied claims that it is scaling back additional surgery production within the National Health Service (SNS). The clarification follows concerns raised by the Ordem dos Médicos (Medical Association), which warned of a potential “ghost reduction” of 200,000 to 300,000 surgeries due to changes in how procedures are recorded.

The controversy stems from the implementation of the National System for Access to Consultation and Surgery (SINACC), a digital platform designed to manage patient access. The Medical Association expressed concern that changes to the definition of “small surgery” could result in certain procedures, specifically those under three centimeters, failing to be registered on official surgical waiting lists.

In response, the Ministry has agreed to create a working group to review the definition of small surgery. This group will include representatives from the Ordem dos Médicos, the SNS Executive Directorate, ACSS, SPMS, and the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

The Ministry emphasized that no necessary clinical act will be left unregistered and that guaranteed maximum response times (TMRG) will continue to be upheld. The SINACC system is currently in a testing and expansion phase, with full production pending the establishment of safe transition conditions for health professionals and partners.