Ana Paula Martins, the Minister of Health, told parliament that about 36% of patients awaiting cardiac surgery are operated on outside the legally guaranteed maximum response time, and she said the government will consider adding more reference centres if experts back them. The statement follows a letter from cardiac surgery directors at four northern hospitals warning of growing backlogs; meetings with centres in Lisbon, Coimbra and the North are scheduled. Patients awaiting cardiac procedures and those referred for specialist care should expect follow‑ups from hospitals about treatment timelines.