In a written response sent to Lusa, the Attorney General’s Office confirmed “the existence of an investigation, which is underway at the Department of Investigation and Penal Action (DIAP) of Lisbon.”
On Friday, CNN reported that a dermatologist at the Hospital de Santa Maria allegedly received 400,000 euros for ten Saturdays of additional work in 2024, using one of the days to remove benign lesions from his parents.
The issue involves the Integrated Management System for Surgical Patients (SIGIC), which allows surgeries outside of working hours to reduce long hospital waiting lists.
The Health Inspection General (IGAS) also launched an investigation this Monday into additional surgical activities conducted within the National Health Service (SNS), as well as an audit concerning the surgical activities performed as additional production and the classification of patients in homogeneous diagnostic groups (GDH) in the Dermatology Service of the Santa Maria Local Unit, from 2021 to the present.
Also on Monday, the Minister of Health stated that this case “does not inspire confidence among the Portuguese people.”
“Until the investigations are completed, the institution, in this case, the largest hospital in the country, (…) is under suspicion, which does not inspire confidence among the Portuguese, especially those waiting on a list for surgery or a consultation,” said Ana Paula Martins.
