Last February (2020 ), I was told I need a knee replacement. Faro Hospital send me a letter confirming the operation. Time went by, nothing. Now, the Portuguese law says that after 6 month they have to send you a voucher to go private. 14 month later I received the voucher. OK no problem, I realised covid and all that.
I send the voucher to Gambelas private hospital in Faro only to be told that there is no money available to honour it. Great!.
So a month later I get another voucher with the same result.
Has anybody else had the same problem or is it just me?

I am also waiting for a minor ish op. I was sent to Portimao, rather than Beja, my nearest and was told I was classed as urgent. This was back in January.

Last month, I was sent a list of hospitals who could do the operation earlier, but it was a choice of Braga, Porto or Aveiro. Not wanting to spend something like 5 hours in a car, coming home, after an operation. I declined, explained my reasons and they accepted that. Still waiting to hear.

They have to offer, and as long as you explain, you should be okay, Apparently, if you refuse after three offers, tough. You're off the list.

Speak to your doctor.

Curious. Do you mean There was no money available by the private hospital or by the SNS to pay the bill? I would think the latter so no one will do it at the moment under the current circumstances, If it was HPA that cannot do it, then try Hospital Lusiades in Albufeira.

SNS are not honouring the voucher.

Just look around at any Centro de Saude and ask yourself if they have any money.....