Portugal Socialist Party slams govt plan to cut health waiting lists

Socialist Party secretary‑general José Luís Carneiro accused the Portuguese government of seeking to remove patients from waiting lists for surgeries and consultations. He said the new rules, set out in Ordinances 274/2026/1 and 281/2026/1 published in June, reclassify certain “small surgeries” so they no longer require entry on the national surgery waiting list.

Carneiro warned Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to scrutinise the new National Access to Consultation and Surgery System (SINACC), a digital platform the government plans to launch on Saturday. He echoed concerns from the Order of Doctors about serious flaws that could affect equality of access to the National Health Service, noting that recent digital reforms have produced known problems. The Socialist leader added that health services have deteriorated since the current administration took office.