New reference framework for the SNS will be signed in the coming days

A minister of Health announced today that the Global Framework of Reference (QGR) for the triennium 2027-2029 will be signed in the coming days, allowing the SNS to start next year with “inline management instruments”.

“ After the Global Framework of Reference (QGR) 2026-2028, we have already agreed on the global framework 2027-2029, which will be signed in the coming days, and also the terms of reference for the contract of 2027”, said Ana Paula Martins in parliament.

Despite having effect on January 1, this year, the QGR for 2026-2028, a document that establishes strategic and financial guidelines for local health units (ULS) and oncology institutes (IPO), was only published in early September.

At that time, Ana Paula Martins assumed that the government's responsibility for the delay of several months in the publication of the QGR, which is proposed by the Executive Board of the National Health Service (DE-SNS) and approved by the Ministries of Health and Finance.

At today’s joint hearing on the Health and Budget, Finance and Public Administration committees in the context of the discussion on the speciality of the State Budget Government’s proposal for next year, the minister also said that, in the next two months, DE-SNS will complete the organizational development plans of ULS and IPOs, so that “2027 begins with the management instruments aligned”.

“ This is how the autonomy of the ULS is strengthened with clear rules, with objectives known since the first day of the year and accountability for the results,” said Ana Paula Martins, for whom the State “cannot be held hostage to immobilism whenever a reform messes with the interests, habits or organizational models installed.”.

In the face of the deputies, the governor pointed out “facts to end some myths” as the increasing expenditure on health while the results of the SNS are worse.

“SNS is responding to the needs of an increasing and more diverse population, keeping stable the weight of its expenditure on the economy and public expenditure,” the Health Minister argued, saying that in 2025, the total expenditure of SNS remained at 5.5% of GDP and 13% of public expenditure.

This stability “gains particular significance when confronted with the demographic evolution of the country,” said Ana Paula Martins, in highlighting that the population increase in recent years, that a “substantial part of immigration” poses additional requirements to the SNS.

The minister also reiterated that, in order to respond to the waiting lists for consultations, examinations and surgeries, the government intends to strengthen the public health capacity, but will resort, with “criteria, transparency and evaluation”, to the social and private sectors, “where this allows to respond in a clinically appropriate time”.

The proposal of the Government of the State Budget for 2027 was approved, in general, on Wednesday, in the Assembly of the Republic and the overall final vote is scheduled for November 24, after the discussion process in the specialty.