The Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) issued instructions to several health units following complaints from users related to difficulties in accessing Voluntary Termination of Pregnancy (IVG) in mainland Portugal, determining the opening of a monitoring process.
«On March 9, 2023, the opening of a monitoring process (PMT) was determined, the objective of which is to monitor and monitor compliance by NHS healthcare providers with the rules established by law and respective regulations, which aim to guarantee and conform users' access to the provision of health care, specifically, to carrying out IVG", says the ERS in the report on the deliberations of the 4th quarter of 2023 released today.
The opening of the PMT was notified to all official and officially recognized establishments for carrying out the IVG, the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) and the Medical Association (OM).
After analyzing the procedures for carrying out IVG, the ERS decided that health units must “permanently guarantee that when providing health care, the legitimate rights and interests of users are respected”.
According to the ERS, healthcare “must be provided humanely, with respect for the user, promptly and within a clinically acceptable period of time”.
The instructions targeted the clusters of health centers (ACES) in Alto Ave – Guimarães, Vizela and Terras de Basto, Ave/Famalicão, do Cávado I – Braga, Cávado II – Gerês/Cabreira, Entre Douro and Vouga I – Feira and Arouca , Between Douro and Vouga II – Aveiro North, Greater Porto III – Maia/Valongo, Tâmega II – Vale do Sousa Sul, Tâmega III – Vale do Sousa Norte, Greater Porto VII – Gaia, Greater Porto VIII – Espinho/Gaia, Alto Trás -os-Montes – Alto Tâmega and Barroso and Grande Porto V – Porto Oeste.
The hospital centers of Médio Ave, Póvoa de Varzim – Vila do Conde, Tâmega e Sousa, Vila Nova de Gaia Espinho, Entre o Douro e Vouga, Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Lisboa Oeste, Oeste, Médio Tejo were also notified. , Baixo Vouga, Setúbal, Leiria and Tondela-Viseu.
And also the hospitals in Braga, Senhora da Oliveira – Guimarães, São João (Porto), Santo António (Lisbon), Central Lisbon, North Lisbon, Loures, Santarém, Amadora-Sintra, Espírito Santo (Évora), Garcia de Orta (Setúbal ), Vila Franca de Xira, Algarve, Cova da Beira, Figueira da Foz and Coimbra.
The ACES of Dão Lafões, Greater Porto I – Santo Tirso/Trofa, Cávado III – Barcelos/Esposende, Greater Porto IV – Póvoa de Varzim/Vila do Conde, Douro I – Marão and Douro Norte, Saúde Douro II – Douro Sul, Lisbon Central, Loures Odivelas, Lisbon North, Lisbon West and Oeiras, West North, West South, Médio Tejo, Arrábida, Saúde Lezíria, Almada/Seixal, Cascais, Sintra, Central Alentejo, Algarve I – Algarve Central, Algarve II – Algarve Barlavento, Algarve III – Algarve Sotavento, Baixo Vouga, Pinhal Interior Norte, Cova da Beira and Baixo Mondego were also mentioned.
The list of notifications also includes local health units in Matosinhos, Norte Alentejano, Litoral Alentejano, Baixo Alentejo, Castelo Branco and Guarda, as well as Galo Saúde – Parcerias Cascais, investor in Cascais Hospital.
The PMT emerged after the ERS became aware, on the 11th and 12th of February 2023, «through news broadcast by the media», of possible constraints in the referral and access of users to carry out the IVG, by personal choice, in establishments of the National Health Service (SNS).
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