Former executive director of the National Health Service (SNS) António Gandra d’Almeida approved, while still in office, a payment that included himself.
The payment in question involved increased fees for emergency service tasks at Guarda, amounting to a contract of 29,000 euros.
The authorization occurred when Gandra d’Almeida was the CEO of SNS, allowing compensation “at a rate higher than stipulated for medical services, which he personally provided at the Emergency Department of the Local Health Unit (ULS) in Guarda.”
“The approved increase did not identify the beneficiaries, and was executed in the second half of 2024. It was a general authorization, among many similar ones, and thus, when I signed it, I was unaware it involved me”, he explained in response to inquiries about the incident.
Upon realizing the authorization included him in “February/March of this year”, he “immediately” informed the current Executive Director, who voided the prior authorization.”
In light of the situation, the former CEO emphasized that he was unaware he was making a decision in his own interest and denied receiving “any benefit” from any decision made by him.
A document from the Health Activities Inspection General (IGAS) suggests that ULS Guarda request the return of 29,000 euros, or at least part of it, from Gandra d’Almeida’s company, Raiz Binária.
The ex-CEO and the Controversial Exit
António Gandra d’Almeida resigned from his position in January this year, following an investigation which revealed that the then-CEO had improperly accepted salaries before accepting the Government’s invitation to lead the SNS.
At the time, Gandra d’Almeida claimed that the report contained “falsehoods and inaccuracies” damaging to his reputation.
By the end of 2024, António Gandra d’Almeida was involved in another controversy, prompting an investigation by IGAS. The issue involved an anonymous complaint alleging Gandra d’Almeida violated waitlist protocols following plastic surgery in October at Vila Nova de Gaia Hospital, in Porto district.
In May 2024, the Government announced the selection of military doctor António Gandra d’Almeida to replace Fernando Araújo as executive director of the SNS. The choice was approved by the Council of Ministers the following month. After his departure, the position was filled by Álvaro de Almeida.
