Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento has confirmed that the national government will continue to fund 50% of the cost of Madeira’s new Central and University Hospital, despite rising construction costs.
Speaking in the Assembly of the Republic on Friday, the 23rd of October, during a hearing on the proposed State Budget for 2027, the minister said a new Council of Ministers resolution on the updated financial contribution would be approved shortly.
“Costs have risen. The Government will approve a new resolution of the Council of Ministers soon, maintaining the financing of 50% of the cost of the new hospital,” he said.
The assurance came in response to JPP MP Filipe Sousa, who questioned why the budget proposal did not explicitly identify either a percentage or an amount for the project.
Earlier that day, Regional Government President Miguel Albuquerque also said the national contribution was guaranteed and would be updated once the contract for the hospital’s final construction phase had been awarded.
Speaking during a visit to the Socorridos Hydroelectric Power Plant, Albuquerque dismissed concerns arising from remarks made in Parliament by the Secretary of State for the Treasury, in response to a question from Socialist MP Carlos Pereira.
Albuquerque recalled that the funding commitment had been agreed under António Costa’s government and said the national government had met its obligations for the first two phases.
He explained that a further Council of Ministers decision would be needed to reflect the final contract price for the remaining phase. Rising construction material costs made such adjustments normal for a project of this scale, he added.
Albuquerque also criticised attempts to turn the hospital’s financing into a political dispute, saying the priority was to complete a project vital to Madeira’s future.
During the parliamentary hearing, Miranda Sarmento also confirmed that Madeira would receive around €80 million in Cohesion Fund compensation and €82 million towards reducing the Region’s commercial debt in 2027.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
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