Data from the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) transparency portal shows that the number of patients without an assigned family doctor rose by nearly 66,000 in the first five months of 2025. As of May, over 1.66 million people are currently waiting for a primary care specialist.
Over 1.6 million patients remain without a family doctor
Tuesday, 30 June 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
ULS Alto Ave is the Alto Ave Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Ave), a public body that runs hospitals and some primary-care services for the Ave area in northern Portugal. It is part of the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS), and recent staff strikes have affected overtime and complementary work, so residents should check local hospital notices before visiting.
