Portugal caps locum fees to meet financial bail out requirements

Reducing the maximum fees payable to locum doctors, cutting overtime pay, and banning the use of private facilities for diagnostic tests are among the measures included in a new legislative package for the health sector aimed at reducing Portugal’s public expenditure. The cuts are expected to save up to €85m (£75m; $123m) in the first year.

After Greece and Ireland, Portugal is the third country in the eurozone to receive financial aid through a bail out by the International Monetary Fund, the European Central Bank, and the …