The Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security announced today that it has signed a new protocol guaranteeing accommodation for patients and their companions traveling to Lisbon due to illness.
Mónica Seidi, Secretary for Health and Social Security, believes that “this will be a much more comfortable way of accommodating patients who have to travel to Lisbon, and create a better balance between these trips and those to the city of Porto, where accommodation was already guaranteed on a stable basis.”
“In recent years we’ve received complaints about the enormous difficulties our displaced patients are experiencing in the face of rising accommodation costs, especially in the city of Lisbon. We have made numerous contacts until we managed to find a solution that doesn’t solve all the situations, but is a great help, given the conditions the apartments offer,” he said.
In 2023 and 2024, the value of the per diems for the displacement of users exceeded five million euros, for a total of 3.2 million per diems throughout 2023 and 2.3 million in 2024, with the figures only up to September.
With this protocol, users are responsible for paying up to a maximum of 34.42 euros per night, corresponding to 60% of the daily co-payment (on the A scale), with the remainder being borne by the Regional Health Directorate.
The accommodation is located in Rua dos Anjos. The Support Service for Displaced Patients makes appointments at the request of the hospital’s Social Services in the user’s area of reference.
According to the protocol, six rooms are available at all times, possibly accommodating two people, the patient and a companion, in each room.
Mónica Seidi believes that “the presence of a companion continues to be a fundamental support, even taking into account that this is a proximity service and that users are closely monitored.”
Catarina Gonçalves Silva was appointed Coordinator of the Support Service for Displaced Patients in October 2024 because she has “the professional experience required to carry out her duties” and, in addition, Mónica Seidi believes that “she is a professional for whom psychosocial support for users is a priority”.
She adds: “Our patients are in good hands and will be very well settled in.”
From a government press release
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