Government denies late payments to program psychologists Take care

“ Nthere are unpaid consultations that exceed 90 days [to execute payment]”, the Ministry reported in a written reply sent to Lusa, after on Thursday a group of psychologists denounce, in a statement, that professionals are not being paid for the consultations they hold, a position endorsed by 493 workers.

This is a measure by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, which started on 2 July and provides for the provision of psychologist and nutritionist checks for free consultations for young people aged 12 to 35.

The measure provides for psychologists to receive EUR 40 per consultation within 90 days (three months).

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport said that the situations referred to by psychologists “will be related to consultations without the previous issue of the check” and that psychologists will not be paid in these cases.

“ The delays reported in issuing checks will be overcome as soon as the automation processes are completed on the platform supporting the program, which should happen in the coming days,” the Ministry added.

On Thursday, one of the psychologists of the group who filed the complaint, Rosana Milhomens told Lusa that the 90-day deadline for paying the consultations was already exceeded, since she had not received any payment since July.

Rosana Milhomens also said that she has already held about a dozen consultations without issuing the checks so that young people do not spend more than 30 days without follow-up.

Regarding the delays in issuing the checks, the group of psychologists revealed that there are cases of young people who have had the first two consultations and are waiting to resume psychological follow-up since August and others who still wait for the first two checks, without knowing when they can start the consultations.

The measure, managed by the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth, is part of the ‘Take care’ program, which aims to promote youth health and healthy lifestyles.

Checks must be requested through the gov.pt platform with the Digital Mobile Key to check the age of young people.

The measure, originally launched in September 2024, was suspended in the last school year for evaluation and identification of improvements, having been resumed in July this year.

In previous editions, only psychologist and nutritionist checks were made available to university students.

Until Thursday, according to the Order of Nutritionists of Portugal, 730 nutritionists adhered to the measure and according to the Order of Portuguese Psychologists there are 3,875 psychologists adherent to the program.