Latest news and stories about patient care in culture in Portugal for expats and residents.
State spending on outsourced digital health initiatives faces scrutiny for duplicating the services of Family Health Units while over 1.5 million citizens lack assigned doctors.
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.
Aveiro's Mayor suggests that the hospital's emergency department may see significant improvements and renovations ahead of the originally planned larger-scale project.
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.
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 National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians argues that a recent death in Taipas highlights systemic failures in the INEM emergency response model, specifically regarding resource allocation.
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.
The Garcia de Orta Hospital in Almada faced temporary emergency department closures due to staffing roster issues and an influx of births, while separate concerns arise over the closure of a Family Health Unit in Alverca due to facility maintenance failures.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
