According to data provided to the Lusa agency by the organization ANCC, 264 beds were completely closed this year, and another 72 were discontinued; however, the institution strengthened other teams, especially those dealing with integrated home care.
ANCC President, José Bourdain, told Lusa that a bed being closed cannot be replaced by home support because these are fundamentally different things; typically, people requiring inpatient treatment are directed specifically to inpatient facilities.
According to the head, beds included in the network consolidation are being closed, but at the same time, institutions are strengthening their teams, such as home care teams, and are effectively closing down.
He added: 'I would venture to say that only this year 264 [complete closures] plus 72 [network consolidation] have closed. From 2021 to 2022, we are talking about 749 plus 115.'
The data also shows that 15 beds were reclassified (changed types) since January. ANCC reports that there are 55 beds whose information is unconfirmed.
Of the beds for which information exists in the continuous care network, ANNC estimates nearly 880 have been effectively closed since 2021, which have been replaced by home care teams or reclassified.
José Bourdain called this 'extremely serious,' noting that the number of bed closures increased in 2026, even though September has not yet ended, compared to the previous three years.
He also warned about the chronic underfunding of these institutions, and this issue will be addressed in the Presidency of the Republic today. The head emphasized that annual updates conducted by successive governments have not compensated for the increase in institutional costs, especially those related to salaries.
ANCC regrets the long history of frozen prices or 'absurd price increases,' which are causing institutions to reach their limit and be forced to close.
He recalled that the initial goal of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) was 5,500 beds, but only 4,446 were launched into the competition: 'From the beginning, 1,054 beds remained outside the plan.'
Furthermore, he noted that approximately 400 beds of various types advanced in the Central region, and 2,000 in the North, totaling about 50% of the initial targets. In the Lisbon and Tagus region, 1,457 beds were approved, of which just over 100 advanced.
Responding to the question of the PRR's impact on this sector, he stated that the new beds actually implemented 'do not compensate for the closed ones': 'Instead of improving, the situation has worsened.'
ANCC data indicates that 264 beds were closed this year, 72 were discontinued, but home support teams were strengthened, and 15 changed type. Last year, 90 were closed, and 43 were discontinued, but institutions strengthened their teams, especially in providing home services. Data on continuous care bed closures provided by ANCC shows 88 in 2024, 87 in 2023, and 220 in 2021-2022.