The Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a criminal investigation into the surgery of the PSD’s Secretary-General, Hugo Soares, at Santo António Hospital in Porto. This information was confirmed by the Attorney General’s Office.
“An inquiry has been opened and is proceeding under the Regional Department of Investigation and Penal Action in Porto. It is currently subject to judicial confidentiality,” the PGR stated.
On Saturday, the Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed receiving a complaint against Hugo Soares, which is under review. The complaint relates to alleged undue favoritism in accessing surgery at Santo António Hospital last summer.
In addition to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the Health Activity Inspection-General is also investigating the case, and a response from the agency is awaited.
The complaint indicates that Hugo Soares was prioritized for colon surgery, with a robotic operation conducted last July, shortly after being placed on a waitlist following a private sector consultation. There are also suspicions directed at the director of the surgery department at Santo António Hospital, Eurico Castro Alves.
Jorge Barros, the clinical director of Santo António Hospital, stated that the anonymous complaint contains “incorrect or grossly distorted assumptions.” He noted the lack of knowledge regarding whether any department doctor provided services to the politician in a private setting.
He detailed that Hugo Soares visited the hospital’s emergency room on July 13, 2024, receiving a yellow bracelet and was directed to general surgery. “The clinical assessment led to a diagnosis of acute inflammatory disease requiring non-emergent but priority surgery,” he explained, noting the procedure was within the “guaranteed maximum response time for non-oncological priority surgeries,” which is two months.
“The pathological analysis showed acute and severe lesions of the excised anatomical specimen, objectively reinforcing the clinical priority for the surgery,” added Jorge Barros, who submitted documentation to the IGAS.
Hugo Soares has not commented on the case. Previously, he asserted to Correio da Manhã that he neither violated any rules nor received favoritism.
