In the end, the process of selling the Red Cross Hospital, which was part of the restructuring plan of Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa (SCML) and which was already underway with the previous ombudsman, fell to the ground. According to the order published this morning in Diário da República, signed by the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, Rosário Palma Ramalho, none of the proposals were considered satisfactory.
The Hospital is 54.79% owned by Santa Casa and 45% by the Portuguese State, through Parpública. Its sale has been underway since November 2022 and was expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024. However, according to the document, the two parties highlight the “absence of necessary conditions, in terms of safeguarding the equity interests of shareholders, to continue the sale process”.
And, therefore, they determine “the closure of the process of joint sale of shares (…), without awarding the sale to any of the bidders”.
The sale of Hospital da Cruz Vermelha was still being evaluated by the former provider, Ana Jorge, together with Parpública. At the time, still in office, he admitted to the Express have about a dozen proposals for the sale of this unit. In this final stretch, there would be three candidates for purchase: Sanfil Medicina, Trofa Saúde and Hospital Lusíadas.
Antonio Pedro Santos
Social Security
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At the end of 2023, the date of the last report and accounts available, the Hospital had a capital injection of 11.2 million euros, which allowed it to end this year with positive assets of 8.5 million euros.
Since SCML joined the hospital management company, more than €27 million were injected into the subsidiary (in supplies converted into equity), of which €14.6 million by Santa Casa and €12.5 million by Parpública. The objective of selling the 3% stake in CUF Belém and Clínica de Chelas will also be underway.
At the end of December, the Economic Journal revealed that the sale of the Hospital da Cruz Vermelha was in the final stage of presenting offers, but that none of the candidates for the purchase, Sanfil Medicina, Trofa Saúde and Hospital Lusíadas were willing to accept the sale conditions imposed by the State.
The Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry into the management of Santa Casa was scheduled to begin on September 18th, but work was suspended due to the discussion surrounding the Union Budget. It should resume in January and will be chaired by socialist Tiago Barbosa Ribeiro.
Source: expresso.pt
