The article "And after the PRR?" is an editorial by Nuno Reis, director of the newspaper "Voz das Misericórdias", which addresses the need for reflection on the execution rates of the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and on the current management of this program in public administration.
The author highlights the crucial role of Santas Casas and Misericórdias in expanding the network of integrated continuing care and increasing the number of nurseries, warning that the social sector should not have its "wings clipped" given its proven capacity for action. At the recent National Congress of Misericórdias, an alert was raised about the need to allow social institutions direct eligibility to European and national funding calls, to preserve a heritage that belongs to the communities they serve.
The article warns against the administrative imposition of filters that exacerbate the role of Coordination Commissions or Intermunicipal Communities, considering that this would further tip the balance in the wrong direction. The author argues that it is necessary to count on everyone, including the Misericórdias, to face future challenges.
The 2024 Social Charter, cited in the article, confirms that efforts to support the elderly are insufficient. The rapid increase in the population aged 65 or over has constrained the growth rate of coverage of responses such as nursing homes, home care, and day centers. Nuno Reis concludes that involving the social sector as a public service agent and full partner is fundamental to ensure more and better responses to population aging.
