en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Portuguese government has announced that, under the revised Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), the health sector has become one of the most supported areas, with €630 million allocated for facility renovations, the modernization of the National Health Service (SNS), and the procurement of four medical emergency helicopters.
The revision of the PRR in the health sector aims to enhance the operational efficiency of the National Health Service and ensure compliance with the plan's targets and milestones by the deadline of August 31, 2026. In a joint statement, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economy and Territorial Cohesion stated that the PRR will support the construction and renovation of 492 healthcare facilities, including the construction of 55 new health centers, the renovation of 335 health centers, and the substantial completion of construction and renovation projects for an additional 102 health centers.
Minister of Economy and Territorial Cohesion, Castro Almeida, said in the statement that the adjustments to the PRR in the health sector aim to channel more resources toward investments that directly improve citizen care, including the procurement of equipment for local health units and the modernization of the care services network. Health Minister Ana Paula Martins believes that the increased funding for the health sector under the PRR represents a significant investment in the effectiveness and modernization of the National Health Service.
She noted that these resources are being directed into concrete projects that directly impact the quality of care provided to citizens, covering the renovation of health facilities, the modernization of hospital technology, and the upgrading of medical equipment, while also helping to enhance the sector's attractiveness to health professionals. According to the government's assessment, the higher development goals in the health sector have translated into increased funding and a greater volume of completed work.
In the area of continuing care, the revised plan sets a target: through infrastructure renovations and equipment procurement, 180 existing continuing care units will be upgraded, and after the renovation, approximately 6,900 beds will be better equipped to meet patient needs and provide higher-quality care. For the National Integrated Continuing Care Network, the PRR plans to add 3,850 new beds, of which 2,267 had been completed by August 31, with another 1,583 nearing completion.
In terms of emergency transport, the government will procure four new helicopters for medical emergency transport and purchase 124 large medical equipment items for SNS hospitals and the Armed Forces hospitals in Lisbon and Porto. The total share of the health sector in the PRR thus increases by approximately €630 million.
Officials stated that each reallocation of the health sector has received additional financial support; even though some physical targets (such as the number of units to be built) have been adjusted based on the actual implementation capacity of the current project management entities by August 31, 2026, the released funds remain within the health sector and have not been withdrawn from the PRR. The ministries also noted that removing a project from the plan does not mean it will not be implemented, but rather that it no longer fits the original execution timeline and may in the future turn to other funding sources such as Portugal 2030, the European Investment Bank, or the national budget.
