SAPA is a system that contributes to the realization of a comprehensive, integrated and transversal policy of response to persons with disabilities or temporary disabilities, in order to compensate and mitigate activity limitations and participation restrictions resulting from disability or temporary disability through, inter alia:

the free and universal allocation of support products;

the effective management of their allocation through, in particular, the simplification of procedures required by the entities and the implementation of a centralised IT system;

simplified financing of support products.

For a better understanding of this system, consult here the "Guidelines of SAPA".

For whom SAPA is intended

SAPA is aimed at all persons with disabilities or temporary disabilities who are in need of support products or who have specific, susceptible difficulties, in conjunction with environmental factors that may limit or hinder their activity and participation, on an equal and inclusive basis taking into account the person’s life context.

Entities involved in the SAPA system

SAPA is composed of a managing entity, funding entities and prescribing entities.

Managing Authority

The National Institute for Rehabilitation, as the managing body, is responsible for coordinating the Working Group on the Homologated List of Support Products that may be financed by the system, as well as for drawing up an annual report on the physical and financial implementation of SAPA funding drawn up with the information provided by all the funding entities involved in this system.

Financing Entities

The donors that contribute to the purchase of the support products are:

• Central Administration of the Health System, I.P. (ACSS, I.P.) – Ministry of Health;
• Directorate-General for Education (DGE) – Ministry of Education;
• Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional, I.P. (IEFP, I.P.) – Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security;
• Institute of Social Security, I.P. (ISS, I.P.) - Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security.

Only support products included in the approved list published in the Order 7197/2016of 1 June.

The amount of funding for support products shall be fixed annually by joint order of the members of government responsible for finance, social security, health and education.

Prescriptive Entities

The prescribing entities are defined by order of the member of the Government responsible for each of the financing entities. The entities involved in SAPA must fill out a prescription form through the centralised IT system, within the scope of the SAPA Registration Database (BDR-SAPA).

Support products financed by the Central Administration of Health Services, I.P.

Support products prescribed by hospital units, indicated by the Regional Health Administrations - ARS, finance the support products prescribed in these entities after functional medical evaluation and family partner.

Support products financed by the Directorate-General for Education

Support products essential for access to and attendance at the education system in pre-school, primary and secondary education are prescribed in ICT Resource Centres for Special Education

Support products financed by the Institute for Employment and Vocational Training

Support products essential to access and frequency of vocational training and/or for access, maintenance or progression are prescribed by accredited entities such as the employment services and resource centres of the IEFP, I.P. network.

Support products financed by the Social Security Institute, I.P.

When support products are prescribed by health centres and specialised centres, documentation should be delivered to local services or district social security centres in the area of residence of the persons with disabilities for whom they are intended. In the case of the applicant residing in the municipality of Lisbon, the delivery of said documentation must be made to the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.

The financing of support products for beneficiaries whose area of residence is the municipality of Lisbon is carried out through the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa.

Legislative framework

• Order No 26026/2006, of 22 December, approves the support products with reduced VAT rate
• Decree-Law No 93/2009, of 16 April, creates the Support Product Assignment System
• Decree-Law No 42/2011of 23 March 2009 amending Decree-Law No 93/2009 of 16 April 2009 establishing the System for the Allocation of Support Products
• Order No 3128/2013, of 27 February, establishing the Support Products Monitoring Committee (CAPA)
• Ministerial Implementing Order No 192/2014, of 26 September, regulates the database for registration and allocation of support products (BDR-SAPA)
• Ministerial Implementing Order No 78/2015, of 17 March, approves the standard prescription form for support products
• Order No 7225/2015, of 1 July, approves the general procedures for the allocation of support products
• Order No 7197/2016, of 1 June, approves the approved list of support products.
• Order No 3711/2024, of 5 April, which determines the funds allocated to the Support Product Allocation System for the year 2024.
• Order No 14227/2024, of 2 December 2024, with information on the increase in funding for support products under the Support Product Allocation System (SAPA).
• Order No 5549/2025, of 16 May, It allocates the money to the financing of support products under SAPA during the year 2025.