Executive prepares new round of PPP in Health. And wants faster processes

The government is preparing to launch a new cycle of public-private partnerships (PPP) in healthcare, aiming to expedite the bidding processes as part of state reform. Health Minister Ana Paula Martins announced this during a parliamentary hearing, highlighting the bureaucratic delays that currently hinder these management models. The existing legal framework is complex, often taking five to seven years to complete a bidding process. To address this, the government is revising administrative mechanisms to facilitate quicker launches of limited PPPs in local health units. Additionally, Martins mentioned an upcoming regulation on maximum fees for freelance doctors, emphasizing the need for predictability in remuneration. Opposition parties criticized the government's budget strategy for healthcare, alleging it obscures public disinvestment while favoring private operators. The budget proposal was approved in general terms on October 28, with the final vote scheduled for November 24.