Investment of € 8.4 Million to Double Virus Testing Capacity in Portugal
Portugal will have an extended and strengthened diagnostic network to detect the possible reappearance of Covid-19 and other viruses, in order to react “quickly” to new outbreaks, the government said on the 24th of August.
According to the Secretary of State for Health, António Lacerda Sales, who presented the plan at a press conference in Lisbon, the investment is of € 8.4 million, saying that “Portugal is today one of the countries that tests the most per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe.”
"The goal of expanding laboratory capacity is to double the testing capacity to about 22,000 tests per day," he said, noting that currently 10,000 tests are conducted per day at the National Health Service (SNS).
“In Alentejo and Algarve, for example, the forecast is an increase in testing capacity of over 400 %,” he stressed.
The plan was approved on the 10th of August, having a funding of € 8.4 million provided for in the Economic and Social Stabilization Program with the technical-scientific operation in charge of the National Institute Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA).
The investment is mainly in the area of infrastructure and equipment.
