The Liberal Initiative (IL) plans to recommend that the Government require foreign citizens to cover their costs in the NHS before receiving non-urgent healthcare. They also advocate for introducing incentives to ensure payments are collected.
Draft Resolution Presented In The Assembly Of The Republic
In a draft resolution presented on Friday in the Assembly of the Republic, the IL parliamentary group recommends that the Government ensure health institutions collect payments for legally stipulated costs associated with non-emergency healthcare and dispensed medications. This would occur prior to their provision, without affecting the immediate delivery of emergency, urgent, or vital care.
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The resolution states:
“As an alternative to the immediate payment provided for in the previous number, non-resident foreign citizens may make use of health insurance or an international agreement, as long as it is valid in Portugal and accepted by the SNS.”
Ensuring Effective Collection Of Payments
IL also advocates for incentives to ensure effective collection, recommending to the government that the revenue arising from the provision of this care must be mandatorily charged to the individual, the country of origin or the insurer, reverting in full to the ULS that provided it.
Promoting Information System Integration
The party led by Rui Rocha also advocates for promoting the integration of information systems, specifically between the SNS, AIMA (Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum), and AT. This integration would allow data cross-referencing and verification of the user’s status at the time of admission, ensuring proper collection.
The liberals also advocate for ensuring access to healthcare for immigrants who are facing proven economic hardship and have started the process of regularizing their residence.
On Thursday, PSD and CDS-PP introduced a bill to amend the Basic Health Law as the first step in addressing the ‘abusive use’ of the National Health Service by non-resident foreigners, requiring additional documentation from these individuals.
Changes To SNS Beneficiaries And Health Coverage Requirements
The two parties remove migrants without legal status from the list of SNS beneficiaries and introduce a new article stating that:
“Access by citizens with irregular residence status or citizens not resident in national territory implies the presentation of proof of health care coverage, as well as the presentation of documentation considered necessary by the National Health Service for adequate identification and contact of the citizen.”
In its draft resolution, the IL also emphasized that in recent years, the SNS has become a ‘World Health Service,’ providing free healthcare to non-resident foreign citizens, many of whom come to Portugal solely for that purpose.
Impact On SNS Sustainability
The IL parliamentary group also highlights that:
“The data now released tells us that between January and September 30, 2024 alone, 92,193 non-resident foreign citizens were assisted, and around half were not covered by any insurance or protocol. The universal and general access SNS is financed by residents in Portugal. In a country with limited resources and a health service that already has substantial limitations in the provision of care, unrestricted and free use by tourists is unfair, jeopardizes the sustainability of the SNS and the timely and quality provision of services to those who finance it.”
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