The health system measures put into place in Portugal to contain the spread of COVID-19 are:
On March 12th, the authorities unlocked 296 million EUR to increase the capacity of the health sector. Other health-related measures include: a) suspension of overtime limits; b) simplifying the hiring of workers; c) worker mobility; d) hiring retired doctors without being subject to age limits.
– Exceptional regime for public procurement and expenditures in the health sector, allowing swifter procedures and more transparency in public spending (including ventilators, protective equipment, diagnostic support material).
– Special protection regime for professionals in the health sector directly involved in the diagnosis and specialized laboratory response. Exceptional regime for composition of medical boards to assess needs of people with disabilities. Special duty of protection to risk group (+70 year-old / severe disease) with call for limited mobility.
– Mandatory curfew to all tested positive or in active surveillance (in hospital, or at home).
– General call to avoid unnecessary displacements and to promote social distancing.
– National Contingency and Response Plan for Disease.
– Extensive testing implemented across the country, and proactive tracing of potential positives.
– Specific programme for nursing homes testing since 30/3. Two new diagnostic centres have been established since 30/3.
– Measures to support mental health and tackle domestic violence including public campaigns, support lines and extension of two more emergency facilities.
– Research 4 COVID-19: support to innovative solutions of rapid implementation in the NHS in response to the pandemic (1.5 million EUR).
– AI 4 COVID: Data Science and Artificial Intelligence in Public Administration (3 million EUR).
– Science 4 COVID-19 platform launched on 4/4, with ideas, publications and initiatives from the scientific community for cooperative work to tackle COVID-19.
– University labs developing prototypes for test kits and innovation centres developing ventilators and textile equipment to cope with country’s needs and capacitate the industry
– The Portuguese government has been developing three areas of action, the commitment with the Joint Procurement Agreements developed by the European Commission, the purchase of protective equiment on international markets and the use of the national capacity and availability in production of protective equipment and medical equipment to support the breathing of patients.
– Immunity testing plan involving 17 hospitals nationwide by the National Health Institute on 13/5
– VAT and customs duties on vital medical equipment has been waived (protective equipment, testing kits or medical devices such as ventilators) and lasts until 31/7.
– Reduced VAT rate on masks and disinfectant gel from 22/4 onwards.
The published information can be found here
