Government Prepares New Wave of Healthcare Public-Private Partnerships

Friday, 30 October 2026AI summary

🩺 Health 🏛️ Government #healthcare #government-policy #state-budget #public-private-partnership

Government Prepares New Wave of Healthcare Public-Private Partnerships — Photo: Diário de Notícias

Health Minister Ana Paula Martins announced that the government will launch another cycle of public-private partnerships (parcerias público-privadas) across the healthcare sector. Speaking during parliamentary hearings on the 2027 State Budget (Orçamento do Estado), Martins said the administration plans to accelerate tender procedures as part of state reform. The minister also stated that new payment rates for locum doctors will be regulated by a forthcoming decree.

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.