In just three years, Portuguese public hospitals have witnessed an increase of 55% in deaths related to invasive clinical material. The Directorate General for Health (DGS) admits that "The hospital infection rate is higher than the European average in Portugal” and that there is a growing trend in infections occurring after surgical procedures such as ceasarians and gallbladder surgery.

The calculation is presented by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, who are looking to half this number.