A cunning new scheme, first announced two years ago, has been launched by the tax office and the heath service to ensure patients pay for their health consultations and chargeable treatments, or their cars could be seized.
The new system being trialled involves health service staff handing a note to every patient leaving an appointment. The note contains a payment reference for settling the bill at the nearest ATM.
If the patient, in whatever state of health, forgets to pay and misses two deadlines the debt is sent directly to the Tax Authority which then will be responsible for debt collection, by coercive means if necessary.
Starting in September, the scheme will be tested at the Hospital Centre of Alto Ave near Oporto in a pilot project that aims to 'streamline the debt collection process for hospitals in the National Health Service.'
If the bill is not paid, the hospital sends a warning letter with a new deadline for payment within 10 days.
If the payment still is not made, the new collection process swings into action with the health service sending the debtor's details to the tax office which then starts collection proceedings.
The president of the Syndicate of Tax Workers, Paulo Ralha, said today that "there is a tremendous lack of human resources", which will prevent the compulsory collection of health user fees.
The intention of the health ministry under Paulo Macedo is to extend the collection scheme across the entire country by the end of this year but with unwilling tax office staff this will not happen.
Paulo Ralha added that "people could see their homes and cars seized for debts owed! It's completely ridiculous and will bring angry and aggressive people to our service counters."
According to the legislation this scheme should have started two years ago, a fact conveniently overlooked at today's (re)launch.
The new collection regime exempts those with an average monthly income at or below €628.83 and the debts are written off after three years.
