Press release - Communication

Secretaria Regional da Saúde e Segurança Social

Following recent reports regarding the debt owed to suppliers by the Divino Espírito Santo Hospital (HDES), the Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security considers that the situation requires clarification regarding the Agreements for the Settlement of Overdue Debts (ARCV) entered into with hospitals belonging to the Regional Health Service and various suppliers.

The main goal of these agreements was to ensure the full settlement of overdue debt, whilst improving suppliers' financial stability and guaranteeing the regular operation of healthcare facilities.

The agreements entered into are based on a credit assignment mechanism, through which participating suppliers were able to receive the amounts owed immediately by assigning those credits to a banking institution, in this case Santander, acting as assignee.

In this context, the hospitals formally entered into the respective agreements with suppliers, following which the credit claims were assigned to the bank. Following this transaction, Santander assumed the right to receive the amounts due, as well as the corresponding financial remuneration.

Suppliers with overdue receivables of significant value and considerable duration were included in these agreements, always with the express consent of each supplier.

It should also be clarified that, from an accounting perspective, there has been no increase in the overall debt of hospital units; there has merely been an accounting reclassification of the debt.

In the specific case of HDES, it should be clarified that the amount of €56 million corresponding to the agreements entered into with Santander must be deducted from the debt to suppliers recorded as of March 31, 2026. Consequently, this amount no longer constitutes direct debt to suppliers, but rather a financial liability to the bank.

More specifically, regarding the debt to EDA, it is clarified that around €10 million corresponds to agreements entered into with Santander, with approximately €4.4 million remaining as direct debt to the company.

The Regional Secretariat for Health and Social Security reiterates its commitment to transparency, financial accountability and the adoption of mechanisms that contribute to the gradual settlement of the commitments undertaken by the Regional Health Service, whilst safeguarding the stability of suppliers and the continuity of healthcare provision to the Azorean population.