Pregnancy terminations reach highest level in a decade
The Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde or DGS) reported 18,601 pregnancy terminations in 2024, a 5% increase from the previous year. Most procedures were elective, performed within the first ten weeks of pregnancy, with the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region accounting for over half of the total cases.
The DGS (Direção-Geral da Saúde) is Portugal's central public health authority, responsible for setting health policy guidelines, managing vaccination programs, disease surveillance, and public health campaigns. It operates under the Ministry of Health.
The DGS issues clinical guidelines (normas) that health professionals across Portugal follow, manages the national vaccination schedule, coordinates responses to disease outbreaks, and publishes health statistics. It became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic as the lead agency for public health guidance.
For residents, the DGS is the authoritative source for vaccination schedules, health alerts, and clinical guidance. Its recommendations shape how hospitals and health centers deliver care across the country.
