Reflecting on nearly 13 years, it is now imperative to promote the revision of statutes and the entire legislative and organizational framework of this institute, which, over time, have become outdated,” stated Fernando de Almeida at the 126th anniversary of INSA, in the auditorium of the Institute of Social and Political Sciences of the University of Lisbon.
Taking advantage of the presence of the Health Minister, Ana Paula Martins, the official emphasized that this obsolescence compromises the institution’s responsiveness, making it essential to update it “to improve the capacity to meet new requests and challenges.”
“This organizational dysfunction, also resulting from a lack of intermediate leaders, has only been mitigated by the collective effort of the organization, which, by creating new areas of activity and having dedicated service directors and technical and scientific department coordinators, has managed to provide appropriate and timely responses, as was widely demonstrated, for example, during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he noted.
Fernando de Almeida further highlighted INSA’s strategic role.
“The responsibilities assumed by INSA are, therefore, the foundation of public health responses and interventions, making it essential to ensure that the Institute maintains a modern, competitive, and professionally agile structure, capable of responding with national, European, and international impact,” he emphasized.
The president of INSA also recalled the advances achieved in recent years, but warned of the urgent need to review the funding model.
Thanks to the Recovery and Resilience Plan, European Union funding, and competitive research projects, it was possible “to renew equipment, modernize infrastructures, update data networks and laboratory systems, and invest in scientific and technological innovation,” he explained.
However, he warned that “this modernization effort and the provision of increased responses must be properly accompanied by sustainable, predictable, and fair national funding.”
He added: “The evolution of tax revenues has not kept up with the needs of a leading public institution, whose responsibility and scope of activity have grown significantly.”
Criticizing the current funding model, he considered it inadequate, exacerbated by rising operational costs and the valorization of human resources careers.
“All of INSA’s activities now encompass a wide range of responsibilities,” including international commitments and the integration of new laboratories, which implies “a substantial increase in operational expenses,” according to Fernando de Almeida, who, despite the difficulties, made a point of acknowledging the Government’s commitment.
At the INSA anniversary ceremony, the Health Minister highlighted the resilience and relevance of the institution, emphasizing the role of its professionals in building a strong and reliable public health system.
“Your daily work gives body and soul to science, the kind that transforms people’s lives. It is on you that the citizens’ confidence in a strong public health system is built. INSA is today an indispensable reference. It stands out for its technical and scientific competence, quick and rigorous response, and for the national and international dimension of its intervention,” she said.
The INSA celebrations were held in a hybrid format with a conference-debate titled AI and Digital Transformation in Health: “The New Frontier of Science,” and a tribute to INSA workers with 30 or more years of service.
