Babies up to the age of one are to be given “free access” to Portuguese identity cards (cartão de cidadão). The government made the announcement yesterday (to mark International Day of the Child) while in Portimão (not so widely announced) the decision was taken to close pediatric services… indefinitely. Concentrating on the positive, the identity cards will be sent to the baby’s home address, without the need for parents to even apply for this privilege. The plan is part of the government’s drive to ‘simplify bureaucracy’. It will begin as a pilot project in the hospital area of Setúbal, and then be “gradually expanded”…
