Half of Portugal’s families had no money last year to pay for essential medical treatment, with many cutting down on food and resorting to loans to cover these expenses, according to consumer watchdog, Deco.
Of critical concern, the Deco report showed that one third were children who were left without treatment, consultation or medication advised by the doctor.
Deco’s health magazine report was based on a survey of 1,763 Portuguese households.
The difficulty in paying for health care disproportionally affected families with monthly income below €1,500, those with many children, single parents and those with family members suffering from chronic disease.
"This is a country where about 40% of families live on less than €1.000 per month," noted the report.
Dental and optical care is being postponed due to lack of funds and emergency treatment is being avoided by 10% of families as they have no money to pay for it.
Although the poorest are exempt from user fees, covert payments are demanded which are unaffordable for most.
The non-refundable annual cost of healthcare accounted for 19% of the net disposable incomes of the group interviewed, a proportion that rises to 25% in households with a chronically ill member.
To buy in essential medical care, one in five families had to go into debt by borrowing from friends or banks.
For those in work, the number of days lost due to continuing health problems made worse by a lack of health care was 35 million.
These findings were taken from data gathered during the third year of the Passos Coelho government which insisted that health spending was increased and that nobody was denied access to healthcare.
The reality seems to contradict the claims of politicians and with 35 million days lost due to avoidable ill health, the economic impact has been severe.
