The Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital building will only be sold in 2030 and will be used for affordable housing, a government source assured JM.
The same source emphasizes that the sale of the unit is not the result of a recent or unilateral decision by the Regional Government, recalling that the sale was already foreseen in a resolution of the Council of Ministers, dated August 4, 2023.
Nevertheless, the announcement made by the President of the Regional Government, Miguel Albuquerque, regarding the sale of the building generated negative reactions from various quarters, including all opposition parties.
The resolution, published in the Official Gazette, clarifies that the financial transfers from the State for the construction of the new Central Hospital of Madeira must be carried out “in coordination and agreement with the Regional Government, with a view to the best pursuit of the objectives initially defined”, making adjustments to the calculation methodology in light of the current context, namely with regard to the sale of the building where the Dr. Nélio Mendonça Hospital still operates.
The document establishes that 50% of the costs of the future hospital unit will be determined after the sale of the current building, and that the funds resulting from this sale must be entirely allocated to the Portuguese State, within the scope of the financial support granted to the Region for the construction of the new health infrastructure.