Portugal raises RNCCI care rates retroactively to Jan 2026

The Portuguese government issued a decree on 29 July updating the daily rates paid to users of the National Network of Integrated Continuing Care (RNCCI). The adjustment combines a 2.34 % increase linked to the consumer price index with an additional 2.36 % uplift, and it takes effect retroactively from 1 January 2026. New daily payments range from €126.62 for inpatient and palliative units to €91.79 for long‑term care, with separate amounts allocated for health services, social support and ancillary items.

The Association Nacional de Cuidados Continuados (ANCC) welcomed the increase but warned it does not solve the sector's chronic under‑funding. President José Bourdain said the decree “came late and with retroactive effects” and “is only a temporary band‑aid, not a solution to the chronic financing gap”. He highlighted that wages have risen steadily since 2015 while care rates have remained largely static, creating a widening cost gap for providers.