Health Minister Ana Paula Martins announced that the government is considering charging fees to patients who refuse placement in continuing care facilities. The proposal aims to address hospital discharge delays and improve patient flow within the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS).
Health Minister considers fees for refusing continuing care
Tuesday, 4 August 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
Ana Paula Martins is a Portuguese pharmacist and politician who has served as the Minister of Health in Portugal since April 2024. A member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), she was reappointed to the position in the second government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro in June 2025.
Professional Background
Pharmaceutical Leadership: She served as the President of the Order of Pharmacists (Bastonária da Ordem dos Farmacêuticos) from 2016 to 2022.
Hospital Management: She was the President of the Board of Directors of Hospital de Santa Maria (CHULN) in Lisbon from December 2022 to January 2024.
Academic Work: She holds a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy and has been an assistant professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon for over 20 years.
Political Career
Government Role: As Minister of Health, she has overseen the implementation of the "SNS Emergency Plan" and recently addressed issues such as INEM staffing and public-private partnerships in healthcare.
Party Leadership: She served as Vice President of the PSD under Rui Rio (2021–2022).
Parliament: She was elected as a member of the Assembly of the Republic representing the Lisbon constituency in 2024.
8 sources
- Government admits to charging fees in hospitals when patients refuse a place in continuing carecmjornal.pt ·
- Government admits to taxing patients who refuse continuing careobservador.pt ·
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- Court of Auditors detected irregularities in PJ's financial management but waived sanctions for Luís Nevesexpresso.pt ·
- Half-year profits of major banks exceed two billion for the fourth yearpublico.pt ·
