In the past year alone, 9.7 million exams were conducted, 6.7 million of which were through agreements with the National Health Service (SNS). Among the 6.8 million patients attended, approximately five million were SNS beneficiaries.
The National Association of Diagnostic Imaging Services Providers (ANAUDI) emphasizes that access difficulties are not due to discrimination but stem from “structural and contractual limitations imposed by the State itself,” such as insufficient contracted capacity, fee tables outdated for more than 12 years, a shortage of human resources, and a loss of territorial coverage.
“Confusing contractual limitations with discrimination is unfair and distorts the real problem,” stated ANAUDI President Eduardo Moniz in a press release.
The association’s warning follows an alert from the Health Regulatory Entity (ERS), indicating that establishments with agreements with the SNS may face fines up to 44,000 euros if they favor insured patients over SNS beneficiaries.
According to ANAUDI, the maintenance of out-of-date fee tables and increasing pressure on professionals place the sector at a critical juncture.
“Without urgent intervention, SNS patients will face even longer delays, affecting early diagnosis, therapeutic follow-ups, and cancer screenings,” it highlighted.
The association argues that the sustainability of the agreed network is essential to “ensure diagnoses in clinically acceptable times, provide screenings and follow-ups of severe pathologies, avoid territorial and socioeconomic inequalities, protect the freedom of choice of users enshrined in law, and maintain competition among healthcare providers.”
ANAUDI calls for public debate to focus on the structural factors threatening the sector.
Ready to collaborate with authorities, the organization requests immediate and structural solutions, including updating fee tables and enhancing contracted capacity to “protect SNS users’ access to essential health exams.”
Portuguese law protects the user’s right to be attended to without discrimination, and such discriminatory actions constitute an offense punishable by a fine ranging from 1,000 euros to 3,740 euros for individuals, or from 1,500 euros to 44,891 euros for entities.
The Portuguese Constitution guarantees respect for the principles of universality, equality, and non-discrimination in access to healthcare, in addition to the contractual relationship itself.
Healthcare provided under contracts with private sector health entities adheres to the standards and principles applicable to the SNS, and the respective contracted establishments are part of the SNS within the limits of the contracted activity.
While private establishments may have agreements with insurance companies or the SNS, they cannot create access barriers or favor insured patients, and they must provide necessary care regardless of the source of funding, according to the ERS.
