Latest news and stories about healthcare in culture in Portugal for expats and residents.
Professionals guarantee they are available for greater integration with the National Health Service, but the mechanisms to allow this are lacking. This will be one of the topics debated between May 28 and 30 at the 15th Congress of the National Association of Pharmacies, for which Expresso is a media partner.
A growing number of dermatologists in Portugal are opting out of health insurance networks due to stagnant reimbursement rates and administrative burdens, resulting in appointment wait times of up to eight months and raising concerns about healthcare accessibility.
The UK Government is introducing financial incentives of up to 80 percent of base salary for NHS doctors who volunteer for additional overtime in emergency departments beyond their standard annual requirements.
For the socialists, the loss of responsiveness of the NHS is particularly “incomprehensible” when it is known that it has more money and more medical staff
The external paediatric surgery emergency department at Dona Estefânia Hospital will remain closed until Sunday.
The National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) is evaluating the potential termination of night-time medical helicopter transport as part of a broader government restructuring plan, with alternative coverage provided by VMER teams.
The Liberal Initiative has requested the digital footprint of strike notice emails sent to the Ministry of Health to verify claims made by officials, while the parliamentary inquiry committee considers potential perjury charges against the Health Minister.
The Portuguese Firefighters League has terminated its cooperation agreement with INEM over 20 million euros in unpaid debts, prompting the government to promise an urgent resolution to ensure emergency services continue.
A decline in the number of nurses leaving the profession offers a glimmer of hope for the SNS, though experts argue that lifting hiring restrictions and expanding primary care access remain critical priorities.
The Centralised Gynaecology and Obstetrics Emergency Department of Loures-Odivelas/Tejo Estuary recorded 201 births during its inaugural month of operation, meeting expected performance targets.
A survey of 8,500 chronic patients aged 45 and over reveals that only 35% possess an individual care plan, while access to video consultations remains limited to 15% of participating health centres.
A new regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency service has launched on the Setúbal Peninsula, operating across the Garcia de Orta and São Bernardo hospitals while relying on a mix of permanent and temporary medical staff.
The Garcia de Orta Hospital faces potential overcrowding and staffing shortages as it becomes a regional hub following the permanent closure of the Barreiro obstetrics emergency department.
The NHS executive director warns that the Socialist Party's 'Back Home' bill, aimed at addressing delayed hospital discharges, risks creating redundant structures and inefficient resource allocation.
The Saúde em Diálogo platform highlights the fragility of Portugal's National Health Service, advocating for a unified patient registry and integrated care models to improve patient outcomes.
Mayors are seeking meetings with political parties to address the negative impact of obstetric emergency service closures on local populations, particularly those in remote areas.
The article argues for a rigorous clarification of the roles between health and social systems in elderly care, while criticizing the government's inconsistent allocation of resources for vulnerable patients compared to political figures.
Portuguese Health Minister Ana Paula Martins acknowledges the upcoming nurses' strike while stating that not all union demands can be met immediately, emphasizing that solutions require time.
One month after storm Kristin, the Leiria hospital continues to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster, which saw 177 polytrauma patients flood the emergency department in just six hours. Healthcare professionals faced significant challenges, including a lack of communication and blocked roads, forcing patients to arrive in their own vehicles. As attention shifted from the storm's immediate impact, underlying issues in the healthcare system have resurfaced, highlighting ongoing chaos and the need for improved public safety policies.
The article discusses concerns regarding the dehumanization of healthcare services in the Alentejo Litoral region of Portugal, as highlighted by Vítor Proença, President of CIMAL. During a meeting with local municipalities and social institutions, Proença expressed alarm over reports of inadequate care at the Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, particularly affecting vulnerable populations such as the elderly and sick. The meeting aimed to address these issues as part of a broader initiative to enhance healthcare in the region. Proença emphasized the importance of understanding local experiences to formulate effective proposals for improving health services.
The article discusses health issues in the Litoral Alentejano region, focusing on the fight for better conditions in the sector. It highlights a demonstration in Lisbon by User Committees, attended by hundreds of citizens, local officials, and health professionals, demanding more doctors, nurses, and improvements in hospital facilities and health centers. The region faces challenges such as a shortage of family doctors, deteriorating facilities, and long waiting times in various specialties. Additionally, the Litoral Alentejano Hospital requires more human resources, particularly nurses, to open new emergency services and ensure adequate care. The document also mentions the population served by the Local Health Unit of Litoral Alentejano, which covers about 100,000 inhabitants. Besides health issues, the text highlights cultural events, exhibitions, festivals, educational activities, and leisure in the region, reflecting an active cultural and social agenda.
The president of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology (SPC), Cristina Gavina, expressed today her regret that the discussion regarding patients on the waiting list for heart surgery in the North region now seems to be focused on a “war between hospitals” rather than on immediate solutions.
ULS is investing 11 million euros in health units in Elvas, with construction of the new operating theatre at the Hospital de Santa Luzia starting on 2 March and expected to last around 4 months. During this time, surgeries will be conducted at the Hospital de Portalegre.
The healthcare system's focus on occupancy rates over patient needs raises significant concerns about the quality of care provided. This shift in priorities suggests a troubling trend where patients are treated more like commodities than individuals requiring tailored care.
The Ministry of Health has announced an urgent assessment of patients on the waiting list for heart surgery, following reports of deaths potentially linked to delays in care. The situation is being treated as a priority, with a focus on ensuring patient safety and addressing the healthcare system's responsiveness.
In the past three years, ten patients have tragically died while awaiting heart surgery at Santo António Hospital in Porto, raising serious concerns about the efficiency and safety of the public healthcare system.
In January, the SNS reported a 28% reduction in the number of days with closed emergency services, which the executive director attributes largely to increased utilization of the SNS 24 hotline, leading to improved waiting times for patients.
António José Seguro and André Ventura faced off in the only televised head‑to‑head before the 8 February presidential run‑off in a 75‑minute debate broadcast on SIC, TVI and RTP (live coverage by Expresso). Seguro sought to present himself as “presidential material”, condemning the state of healthcare as “unacceptable”, while Ventura adopted a party‑leader posture, attacked Seguro as a “kind of Queen of England” and tried to tie him to the PS legacy. Despite their contrasting styles, both candidates united in rejecting the Government’s labour law, highlighting policy faultlines and the choice voters face for a more demanding presidency.
From January 1 the ADSE reimbursement for spectacle purchases has been capped at €180 per year. In February the scheme will also apply revised fee schedules for radiology, gastroenterology and surgery. The combined package is estimated to cost ADSE €15.4 million; the changes are likely to shift some costs onto patients, alter provider billing patterns and increase pressure on the public supplementary health fund and wider state finances.
Hans Jørgen Wiberg, who was born in Denmark in 1965 and lives with tunnel vision, co‑founded Be My Eyes in 2015 to reduce everyday barriers for people who are blind or visually impaired. The mobile app connects users with sighted volunteers through live video calls so volunteers can provide remote visual assistance on demand. While the model has strong accessibility impact and low technical complexity, it depends on the scale and quality of a volunteer network and raises operational questions around reliability, privacy and availability. Given the headline framing as an “AI” app, the service also highlights an intersection where human‑in‑the‑loop assistance could be augmented by machine vision — offering potential scalability but bringing technical, ethical and usability trade‑offs that warrant careful deployment.
