Presidential candidate Luís Marques Mendes blamed the executive management of the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) for recent healthcare failings, saying the board should provide explanations while stopping short of direct attacks on the Health Minister. He accused SNS leadership of contributing to a sense of 'inhumanity' in care delivery — comments that make healthcare a live presidential campaign issue. Expats should watch the campaign for any proposed changes to SNS governance that could affect service delivery.