By Oscar Gaspar, President of the Portuguese Association of Private Hospitals (APHP)
“As a new year begins, it’s important to reflect on the status of the health sector and set vital goals for 2024.
In Portugal, the health sector is under severe pressure, with high demand (diagnostics, consultations and surgeries) for the supply that currently exists; in addition, increased difficulties in managing physicians and lack of investment place an even greater burden on the (public) National Health Service. The SNS is undergoing far-reaching reforms (examples such as combining primary and hospital care and funding per capita rather than per activity, etc….) and whose results we will only able to see in the medium term, but will have an impact on the whole sector. Private health insurance continues to increase at a high rate and currently covers 3.7 million people; another 1.5 million have public health subsystems, with direct access to private providers. For their part, private hospitals have achieved historically high levels of activity, despite their dwindling connection to the NHS, and continue to invest in health professionals and digital technology.
APHP faces 2024 with confidence in the work it has done and in its commitment to affirming Private Hospitalization as an essential axis of the National Health System, reinforcing its complementary role, which is increasingly important in ensuring the provision of health care to Portuguese citizens.
For 2024, the APHP’s strategy involves strengthening the institutional, communication and organizational components, with robust actions to achieve a fair sectoral framework for the development of the activity, which includes, for example, the issue of licensing or the impact of inflation on health.
The international component is also essential, enhancing the role of UEHP and EPHA, moving forward with the organization of the Iberian Private Hospitals Summit with ASPE and preparing the Portuguese participation in the 47th World Hospital Congress, in Rio de Janeiro.
Last but not least, the ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) strategy is a priority for private hospitals in 2024. Aware of healthcare’s responsibilities in environmental terms, we know that human resources are hospitals’ most valuable asset and that healthcare institutions must be properly integrated into the communities in which they operate.”
