The Health Minister admitted on Wednesday that she does not know “what happened” in the two fraud cases reported on the same day.
Speaking to journalists during a visit to the Convento dos Capuchos in Sintra, Ana Paula Martins declined to comment on the arrest of two employees from a family health unit in the north by the PJ.
“We are not going to comment because we are in the field of judicial investigation and will naturally await developments,” stated the minister.
The two employees in question are suspected of having registered 10,000 immigrants with the National Health Service (SNS) who did not meet the necessary criteria for a year and a half.
“At the moment, as I say, this is a matter of investigation and we will follow all steps of the judicial investigation. Whatever is then defined is what we will do,” Ana Paula Martins added, emphasizing that the ministry cannot, and should not, “take any action” without proper clarification.
The two employees from a family health unit in the northern region of the country, detained by the Polícia Judiciária (PJ), reportedly registered 10,000 immigrants with the SNS over a year and a half, according to a source from the investigation.
Lusa | 16:14 – 19/11/2025
When questioned about another fraud case committed at the SNS, also known today, which led to the arrest of an endocrinologist suspected of prescribing anti-diabetic drugs for weight loss purposes, Ana Paula Martins maintained the same stance.
“It is a matter of investigation, in this case criminal, judicial, and the Ministry of Health in due course and with information that is then obtained more thoroughly by the judicial bodies will naturally do its work,” said Ana Paula Martins.
Graça Vargas, the detained doctor, prescribed medications such as Ozempic, Victoza, and Trulicity for patients, claiming they were for diabetic patients. However, the drugs were prescribed for weight loss purposes.
The PJ stated in a release that the case involves crimes of qualified fraud and computer forgery, with the scheme reportedly causing damage to the Portuguese State at around 3 million euros.
The Order of Doctors decided to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the endocrinologist for alleged involvement in a fraudulent scheme prescribing diabetes medication to patients seeking weight loss.
Graça Vargas pretended that the patients were diabetic for medication compensation purposes, with the sole aim of weight loss. Searches are underway at the doctor’s office.
Andrea Pinto | 12:14 – 19/11/2025
The minister further admitted that she does not know “what happened in any of the cases”: “We will find out,” she noted.
“There is one thing that the Government has already done, as you know. It created a fraud-fighting unit – or a fraud-fighting commission – which is headed by the Polícia Judiciária, and we hope it will contribute to preventing situations of this nature,” Ana Paula Martins added.
