The Liberal Initiative (IL) has raised questions concerning significant financial compensations received by dermatologists at the Santa Maria Local Health Unit (ULS) in Lisbon for surgeries conducted outside regular working hours. In 2024, a dermatologist reportedly received over €400,000 in ten years, including €51,000 in a single day.
Recent data indicates the cumulative total reached €715,000 over four years for surgeries on approximately 500 patients, including two direct relatives of the doctor, confirmed by the dermatologist involved.
Furthermore, another doctor in the same unit was reported to have conducted surgeries valued at €113,000 over seven Saturdays, including a time when she was attending a medical conference in Italy.
These situations concern the so-called additional production regime, allowing surgeries beyond normal hours for extra pay to reduce waiting lists. It operates in coordination with the Integrated Management System for Surgery Registrations (SIGIC), which the government intends to replace with a new access system, SINAC.
Following these revelations, the National Health Service (SNS) executive directorate issued guidelines, audits commenced, and the dermatology department head at ULS Santa Maria resigned. Nonetheless, IL expresses significant concerns about the management control and oversight systems within ULS and potentially at higher levels.
The IL party insists that these are indicative of broader structural issues within the SNS management, impacting public trust and the system’s sustainability.
The party advocates for a comprehensive public explanation of how the additional production in the Dermatology Service at ULS Santa Maria operates, highlighting the need to understand its vulnerabilities and potential improvements.
This insight is deemed crucial before rolling out the new SINAC system outlined in the governmental program, as noted by the party.
IL calls for the urgent hearing of seven individuals, including the Minister of Health, the SNS executive director Álvaro Almeida, the ULS Santa Maria Board President Carlos das Neves Martins, and the former dermatology service director Paulo Filipe.
The party also seeks testimony from Miguel Alpalhão, the dermatologist reportedly earning substantial sums for surgeries conducted outside regular work hours.
The Dermatology Unit director at Hospital de Santa Maria resigned on Tuesday after preliminary internal audit findings were presented, confirming the hospital source.
