Paulo Cafôfo, the socialist parliamentary leader, has demanded explanations from the Regional Government regarding the significant cost increase for the third phase of Madeira's new Central and University Hospital. The tender was relaunched at €415 million, an increase of €150 million in ten months, excluding all equipment costs.
Cafôfo highlighted concerns about regional public health, pointing to structural overload within the Regional Health System, with 146,000 clinical procedures on waiting lists and a high number of patients remaining hospitalized due to a lack of adequate post-hospital care, nearly six times the proportion seen on the mainland.
The socialist deputy questioned the timeline for the hospital's completion, the final cost including medical equipment, the guarantee of 50% funding from the Republic's Government, and which regional projects might be postponed to cover the regional component of the investment.
