Cape Verde Shifts Healthcare Strategy with Portugal
The relationship between Cape Verde and Portugal is undergoing a revolutionary transformation in the healthcare sector, moving away from medical evacuations and toward local medical excellence. Cape Verdean President José Maria Neves announced the “total shift” in strategy during an official visit to Porto on Monday.
A New Era Beyond Medical Evacuations
For decades, Cape Verde relied heavily on a model of medical evacuations, sending patients to Portugal for complex procedures. President Neves declared this model “exhausted,” signaling a pivot toward building internal capacity with Portuguese assistance.
“The first kidney transplant in Cape Verde took place three or four weeks ago, performed by a medical team from the Santo António Hospital in Porto,” Neves told reporters following a meeting with Porto Mayor Pedro Duarte. “This success will totally change the paradigm of health relations between our nations.”
The President emphasized that the future of cooperation lies in high-level medical training and the deployment of Portuguese specialist teams to the archipelago. The goal is to modernize Cape Verde’s National Health System so it can respond effectively to citizens’ needs on home soil.
Strengthening Ties in Porto
President Neves spent the morning touring S. João Hospital and the Santo António Local Health Unit, institutions that maintain close academic and clinical ties with Cape Verde. He also visited Cape Verdean patients currently receiving treatment in Porto facilities.
The partnership extends beyond medicine. Porto maintains a sister-city agreement with Mindelo on São Vicente Island, a relationship Neves credited with fostering growth and urban development. Cooperation between the two regions dates back to 1992, focusing on the preservation of cultural heritage and urban planning.
A Model of Stability
Porto Mayor Pedro Duarte praised the “intense historical and affective ties” between the city and Cape Verde, hailing the island nation as a beacon of progress in the region.
“Cape Verde is a reference point for political stability, democratic consolidation, and economic vision for the future,” Duarte said during the reception at City Hall.
President Neves’ visit is part of his “Presidency in the Diaspora” initiative. His tour of Northern and Central Portugal will continue through Sunday, including stops in Barcelos, Braga, Guimarães, Tondela, and Sintra. The journey will conclude in Lisbon with a high-profile meeting with Portuguese President António José Seguro.
Image: Pexels – Wellington Tavares
