New Maternal and Child Center to be Built in Almada, Health Minister Confirms
The Ministry of Health has announced a new operational model for obstetrics and gynecology services across the Setúbal Peninsula, centralizing permanent emergency care at Almada's Garcia de Orta Hospital. Health Minister Ana Paula Martins also confirmed that a public competition for the design of a new, large-scale Maternal and Child Center, to be built on the Garcia de Orta campus, will be launched in 2026.
The health authority's announcement detailed the immediate reorganization, which designates Garcia de Orta as the regional hub for all non-referred obstetric emergencies. The São Bernardo Hospital in Setúbal will remain open on a contingency basis, accepting only urgent cases directed by the national emergency services (INEM) and the SNS24 health line. The minister described this as a temporary measure to consolidate scarce medical resources, stating it was the "only way to concentrate resources without deactivating services in other hospitals."
The new healthcare facility in Almada is the government's long-term solution to the region's needs. Minister Martins acknowledged that the existing infrastructure is insufficient for the growing population of the peninsula. "The Garcia de Orta hospital, with 10 delivery rooms, 31 postpartum beds, and 15 for neonatology, is not sufficient for the Setúbal Peninsula," she stated during a parliamentary commission. The planned Maternal and Child Center is intended to resolve this deficit. The project, which had been previously suggested, is now officially moving forward, with the minister indicating the design competition would open in 2026.
The project is expected to take "two or three years, maybe even a little more" to complete once construction begins. It will be financed directly from the State Budget. This investment will significantly expand patient access and service availability for the entire region. The new center will increase the number of delivery rooms, postpartum beds, and neonatology units, providing comprehensive care for mothers and infants. The recruitment of an additional 30 specialists is deemed necessary to fully staff the expanded services across the peninsula.
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To manage the immediate transition, the government is legislating new mobility and compensation models for healthcare professionals who will be required to work at different hospitals within the new regional network. "We are legislating... to have salary supplements associated with the mobility of these professionals," Martins said, adding that a new hiring model with stronger commitments is also being discussed to attract the necessary talent. This includes forming seven complete medical teams and three task-based teams for the Garcia de Orta hub.
The announcement has been met with cautious optimism, though some local leaders view it as another compromise. André Martins, president of the Association of Municipalities of the Setúbal Region (AMRS), noted that while the measure addresses an ongoing crisis, it follows years of unfulfilled promises. He expressed concern over the "continued degradation of health services," urging for solutions that solve, rather than postpone, fundamental problems. The development of the new hospital is seen as a critical step toward finally providing the region with the modern healthcare infrastructure it requires.
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