There is a disagreement between ADSE and private hospitals regarding the new price tariff of oncological drugs.

Associação Portuguesa de Hospitalização Privada, which represents private hospitals, objects to the reduction of some oncological drug prices in the new tariff that will come into force on October 1.

ADSE states that the change will not negatively affect patients' access to treatment or the amount they will pay.

Therefore, it is not correct to read the discussion as "ADSE reduced cancer treatments by 10%".

Why do private hospitals object?

APHP, the representative of private hospitals, argues that the approximately 10% decrease in the amounts to be paid to hospitals by ADSE for some oncological drugs may cause problems in terms of economic sustainability.

The new price table is planned to come into force on October 1, 2026.

APHP is seeking further clarification from ADSE on the calculation method for the decision.

What does ADSE say?

ADSE's official statement draws a different framework.

The institution states that payments for oncological drugs are based on the Preço de Venda Hospitalar — PVH, that is, hospital sales price reference provided by INFARMED.

The commercial margin determined in the legislation is added to this amount.

According to ADSE, the reason for the decrease in the prices of some drugs is that the costs of hospitals to purchase the drugs have also decreased.

Moreover, there is no decrease in all drugs.

While the prices of some drugs have decreased, others have remained the same or increased.

Will more money come out of the patient's pocket?

According to the official statement of ADSE No.

The institution clearly states that the update does not affect beneficiaries' access to healthcare services and that the change is not intended to increase the copayment burden of patients.

Therefore, with the current information, it cannot be concluded that "cancer patients will pay more after October 1."

Will the treatments stop?

Despite the objections of private hospitals, APHP President Óscar Gaspar did not make a statement that the treatment of the patients would be discontinued.

So currently:

“Private hospitals will stop providing cancer treatment to ADSE patients”

There is no basis for such a claim.

The real dispute is over the calculation of the drug prices that ADSE will pay to private healthcare institutions.

October 1 is the critical date

The new Signage de Preços e Regras do Regime Convencionado will come into force on October 1, 2026.

No special application or action has been announced for ADSE users in the short term.

The main issue to watch is whether negotiations between private hospitals and ADSE will affect the implementation of the new tariff or the relationship of certain healthcare institutions with the ADSE network.

Resources

ADSE — “ADSE atualiza sign de medicamentos sem impacto para os beneficiários”, 21 September 2026

https://www.adse.pt/noticias/comunicado/adse-atualiza-tabela-de-medicamentos-sem-impacto-para-os-beneficiarios/

ADSE — Prices and rules that will come into force on October 1, 2026 table

https://www.adse.pt/sou-beneficiario/rede-adse/tabela-de-precos-e-regras/

RTP — “Hospitais privados contra redução de 10% nos tratamentos oncológicos pagos pela ADSE”, 25 September 2026

https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/hospitais-privados-contra-reducao-de-10-nos-tratamentos-oncologicos-pagos-pela-adse_n1767720