Investments in the SNA allowed 6.6 billion euros to be returned to the economy

Investment in the National Health Service returned €6.6 billion in 2023, down €1.2 billion on the previous year, a study to be published on Tuesday finds.

According to the Sustainable Health Index developed by Nova Information Management School (Nova IMS), almost half of Portuguese people (48%) missed at least one day from work in 2023 due to health reasons, and 6% missed more than 20 days. However, the provision of medical care by SNS avoided two days of absence from work, amounting to savings of one billion euros.

The care provided at SNS also avoided 7.1 working days lost due to productivity, resulting in savings of €3.4 billion.

In total, adding the impact on absenteeism and productivity, SNS saved €4.4 billion in wages and salaries.

Taking into account the impact of wage savings and the relationship between productivity and remuneration (INE benchmarks), the study concludes that the assistance provided by the SNS contributed €6.6 billion back to the economy.

Speaking to Lusa, study coordinator Pedro Simões Coelho highlighted the “change in pattern” of social media’s influence on absenteeism, which is now identical to what it was before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The impact of social media on absenteeism has increased and productivity losses have decreased,” the person in charge emphasized, justifying: “In the years immediately following Covid, when the remote work strategy was widely implemented, people with certain types of illnesses were found to have missed work , because they were at home and, therefore, continued to work.

In 2023, he added, “there will still be remote work, but we have already turned a little bit to the offices and the strategy that we had before Covid, and in this sense it is normal that we are in a period of adaptation to the impact of the National health services.”

So “I wouldn’t attach so much importance [ao valor do retorno para a economia] taking this adjustment into account,” said the person in charge, explaining: “We are at a stage where the impact of social media on reducing absenteeism is increasing and the impact of social media on reducing productivity is decreasing.”

Responding to Lusa’s question about the Emergency and Health Transition Plan presented by the government last week, Pedro Simões Coelho said the document has “a set of strategies that closely correspond to the main priorities” of the SNS, highlighting urgent actions, priority actions. and medium term.

“We now have to analyze its operationalization, but I welcome the implementation of USF as a positive [Unidades de Saúde Familiares] model C,” said the person in charge, referring to units that could be run by the social and private sectors and even physician cooperatives.

Emphasizing that the problem with SNAs “is not the quality of the professionals, but the organization,” he said the only way to help solve the problem is to “give healthcare organizations greater flexibility and autonomy, creating an environment that encourages productivity and excellence in the work of these units and professionals.” “

The Sustainable Health Index, developed by NOVA-IMS in collaboration with AbbVie, assesses not only the evolution of the sustainability of the NHS, but also the NHS itself from a user perspective.

Identifies weaknesses and strengths, as well as possible priority areas for action, and attempts to understand economic and non-economic contributions. This year marks the first time that data on Portugal’s position on clinical trials has been presented.

The results will be presented on Tuesday at the Belém Cultural Center (Lisbon) as part of an initiative in which the Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, and the President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, are expected to participate.