The information was confirmed by the Inspector General to CNN Portugal, with the case being reported Thursday night. Following the inquiry by TVI/CNN, the hospital service director tendered his resignation.
Service director Fernando Vaz left his position on Tuesday, two days prior to the revelation of contracts worth 27 million euros between his private company and the hospital, according to the Local Health Unit of Braga (ULSB).
The board of administration stated that “any potential conflict of interest or incompatibility is under internal review.”
The current board of administration of ULSB has been in place since March 19, 2025.
According to a statement from ULSB, the contractual relationship with Fernando Vaz’s company, Iberoftal, began during the period of public-private partnership (PPP) and continued under the Public Enterprise Entity (EPE) model from September 1, 2019.
This arrangement remained active until the end of 2023, aligned with the commencement of the new management model for local health units (ULS).
From 2019 to 2023, service provisions amounted to over 18.1 million euros.
In early 2024, an international public tender for ophthalmology services for the entire year was initiated.
During the bidding period, ULS Braga extended Ibertofal’s services through direct procurement, amounting to 743,000 euros, “to ensure continuity in ophthalmology care.”
“Upon the conclusion of the 2024 contract and to maintain regular healthcare services for its patients, ULS Braga initiated a new international public tender, fully open to competition, set for three years (2025, 2026, and 2027), with the procedure duly processed and pending necessary authorization,” the statement further explained.
Meanwhile, due to the need for said authorization, the administration found it necessary to engage in two direct contracts worth 5.1 million euros, effective until the commencement of the ongoing contract, to ensure continuity of care at the Braga Hospital Ophthalmology Service.
The contract was established “with the sole entity that submitted a proposal during the international public tender” and also received prior approval from the Court of Auditors.
The Order of Physicians has requested explanations from the Local Health Unit of Braga regarding the service director who owned a company involved in contracts with the hospital, while potentially holding coordination roles in the private sector.
The Order of Physicians requested clarification from the Local Health Unit of Braga concerning a department director who owned a company entering contracts with the hospital, and potentially accumulated coordination roles in private practice.
Lusa | 12:00 – 18/07/2025
