In September 2024, the Portuguese Government announced the creation of model C Family Health Units (FHUs) which, on a complementary basis and in areas with greater need, aim to improve primary healthcare coverage, namely by the GP. These FHUs are to be created by local authorities, social and/or private institutions. The announcement of the creation of model C FHUs created a lot of debate and controversy among professional organizations and scholars that argue that this might be the first step towards privatization of the provision of primary care and that this model can accentuate existing inequities. In addition, in January 2024 model B FHUs were expanded to more 222 FHUs (previous model A); at the time of writing, there has not been an assessment of the impact of this measure in PHC coverage or health outcomes.
Model C FHUs will have public funding but private provision and management to provide care. These units will work in parallel with other PHC services but are not dependent on these. It is expected to have more management autonomy including more flexible and tailored incentive schemes for health workers. These characteristics are perceived by professionals and stakeholders as a menace to other PHC services, namely in terms of brain drain from other models of FHUs to model C of FHUs.
More information (in Portuguese): https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/despacho/24101-2007-1417164