Latest news and stories about healthcare in culture in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Order of Physicians and the Independent Doctors' Union have criticised a new Ministry of Health order requiring internal ward doctors to reinforce external emergency departments during peak demand. Medical associations warn that diverting staff compromises inpatient care and places hospitalised patients at risk.
A study by the Católica Porto Business School for the National Federation of Healthcare Providers reveals the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS) lacks a systematic mechanism to update fees paid to private clinics for diagnostic and therapeutic exams (MCDT). With seven areas seeing no price adjustments since 2014, the report highlights that reactive, ad hoc pricing creates regional inequities and sustainability concerns, urging the adoption of a transparent, periodic regulatory framework.
Spanish healthcare group Ribera Salud, current operator of Portugal's sole healthcare PPP at Cascais Hospital, has officially applied to manage private health centres in Cascais. Backed by potential new investment following changes in its parent company's ownership, the group is positioning itself for a larger footprint in the Portuguese healthcare sector.
Private hospitals are threatening to terminate agreements with the civil servant health subsystem, ADSE, over proposed reductions in oncology reimbursement rates.
The Portuguese Ministry of Finance has approved the urgent hiring of nurses for the NHS, following a formal request from the Order of Nurses, with the official document signed by the Ministers of Health and Finance.
Communist Party leader Paulo Raimundo accuses the Portuguese government of intentionally undermining the National Health Service to facilitate its dismantling, dismissing recent hospital project announcements as political maneuvering.
The Amadora-Sintra Hospital has pledged to add 13 nurses to its emergency department following staff protests, though the Nurses' Association argues this increase fails to address the critical staffing shortages and long patient wait times.
Barreiro Hospital faces critical emergency department delays, with patients experiencing 17-hour wait times due to severe medical staff shortages.
The Assembly of the Republic has promulgated a new diploma regarding pregnancy rights that notably removes the term 'obstetric violence', sparking significant debate among political factions.
Emergency departments are experiencing record-breaking wait times driven by seasonal staffing shortages and a surge in population due to tourism and returning emigrants.
The first privately managed Family Health Unit has launched in Torres Vedras, marking a delayed milestone in the government's Health Emergency Plan to improve patient care efficiency.
Emergency departments are experiencing significant wait times for urgent patients, with extreme heat identified as a contributing factor affecting vulnerable elderly individuals.
Patients with severe heart disease face critical delays in accessing percutaneous valve replacement (TAVI), leading to preventable mortality and disability for those ineligible for traditional surgery.
An editorial by Marta Moitinho Oliveira discussing the unprecedented strain on healthcare systems where patients with established family doctors are losing access to care.
The article examines the critical shift in healthcare funding models, questioning whether Local Health Units should be compensated based on production volume or the quality and continuity of patient pathways.
The government has pledged to avoid artificial reductions in surgery waiting lists, while the Medical Association calls for increased capacity and transparency following new administrative changes to patient categorization.
A former INEM employee, João Figueira, passed away at Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures after suffering a heart attack and experiencing delays in his scheduled surgery due to the facility's lack of specialized equipment.
The president of the Almada Seixal Local Health Unit acknowledges that while immigration contributes to the shortage of family doctors, it is not the only factor, as the institution continues to face significant human resource constraints.
Spanish healthcare group Ribera is actively pursuing new public-private partnership opportunities in Portugal, with leadership currently awaiting feasibility studies to guide their expansion strategy.
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.
