Health: Government policy news in Portugal

Former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho has urged a return to stricter abortion regulations introduced during his administration and repealed in 2015. Speaking at an event hosted by the Portuguese Federation for Life (Federação Portuguesa pela Vida), Passos Coelho defended bringing back user fees (taxas moderadoras) and mandatory counseling, pointing to a rise in procedures performed on foreign women in Portugal. His position diverges from current Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, who has treated existing abortion rules as settled.

The Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República) debated legislative proposals to regulate non-resident access to the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). Lawmakers considered introducing mandatory private health insurance requirements to prevent foreign visitors from misusing Portuguese medical facilities at public expense. The initiative follows findings that over 20% of the 19 million patient records in the national healthcare database lack full identification information.

The Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and the CDS – People's Party (CDS – Partido Popular or CDS-PP) have resubmitted a bill to restrict non-resident foreigners' access to the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). The proposal, which previously lapsed due to the dissolution of parliament, aims to limit care for those without residency status.

President of the Republic António José Seguro has reiterated his availability to mediate a long-term national health pact to stabilize the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). Speaking at the Cascais International Health Forum, he criticized the current level of political noise and emphasized the need to retain medical professionals.

A record 847 retired doctors are currently working within the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS), an increase of 90 compared to last year. More than half of these professionals are family doctors, helping to fill staffing gaps in highly underserviced areas. Despite this, critics argue that the government has abandoned its goal of providing a family doctor to every citizen.

Paulo Raimundo, the secretary-general of the Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP), accused the government of dismantling the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). During a visit to the Algarve, he argued that private interests are increasingly undermining public healthcare access in the region.

President António José Seguro has enacted a government decree clarifying the exceptional incentive scheme for doctors working supplementary hours in the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). This remuneration is cumulative with standard salary payments, aiming to resolve previous interpretation doubts regarding the scheme introduced in June.

Health Minister Ana Paula Martins announced that the government is considering charging fees to patients who refuse placement in continuing care facilities. The proposal aims to address hospital discharge delays and improve patient flow within the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS).

President of the Republic António José Seguro has promulgated the new organic law for the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM), granting the institute special public status. While the government claims this will provide greater flexibility, the emergency technicians' union has requested a parliamentary review, warning that the changes could compromise service quality.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) is investigating the death of a 20-year-old woman in Vila Real. The investigation follows reports that the Medical Emergency and Resuscitation Vehicle (Viatura Médica de Emergência e Reanimação or VMER) was inoperable when the emergency call was received.

Update: Investigation into fatal medical delay continues

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the operational status of emergency response units in the region following the incident.

Minister of Health Ana Paula Martins defended her record at the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) congress, dismissing criticism regarding her popularity. She linked current healthcare pressures, including the number of patients without a family doctor, to rapid population growth and unregulated immigration. Martins emphasized that her focus remains on structural reform rather than public opinion polls.

President António José Seguro has asked that his public statements regarding national challenges not be interpreted as direct political criticism. During a visit to Luxembourg, the President emphasized that his role involves highlighting issues like the country's ageing population to foster national convergence rather than shortening legislative terms.

President of the Republic Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa described Portugal's aging population as a ticking time bomb during a congress of the Union of Portuguese Misericórdias (União das Misericórdias Portuguesas). He criticized the government's lack of response regarding social hospital admissions, emphasizing that civil society solidarity cannot replace the State's primary responsibility.

Political parties in the Assembly of the Republic have reached a consensus on the need to formally recognize fibromyalgia as a chronic disease. Following two public petitions submitted in 2024, various parliamentary groups are now proposing resolutions to include the condition in the official list maintained by the Directorate-General of Health (DGS). The initiative aims to reinforce support for patients and update national disability tables.

Starting July 1, the government will increase the fixed monthly subsidy for each Medical Emergency Post (Posto de Emergência Médica or PEM) managed by fire departments. The payment will rise from €8,760 to €10,800 per ambulance, supporting the Integrated Medical Emergency System (Sistema Integrado de Emergência Médica or SIEM). Health Minister Ana Paula Martins stated this measure prioritizes pre-hospital care, with other protocol-based subsidies to be adjusted for inflation.

The government has opened 332 medical vacancies in underserved geographical areas, offering increased incentives to attract staff. The positions include 109 for family doctors, 210 for hospital specialties, and 13 in public health, with the Amadora/Sintra Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde or ULS) receiving the highest number of family medicine openings.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) workers' committee has criticized the government's new organic law, labeling it a dismantling of essential services. The committee and the Pre-Hospital Emergency Technicians Union (Sindicato dos Técnicos de Emergência Pré-Hospitalar or STEPH) specifically reject the proposed integration of Immediate Life Support (Sistema Imediato de Vida or SIV) ambulances into local health units, arguing the current system is effective.

The workers' commission of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) has demanded immediate clarification from the government regarding their exclusion from a new overtime incentive scheme. While the government recently approved new work regimes for emergency services, staff fear that INEM doctors have been overlooked, potentially impacting national emergency response capacity.

President of the Republic António José Seguro has appointed former health minister Adalberto Campos Fernandes to coordinate a new Strategic Pact for Health. The initiative aims to build a long-term, cross-party consensus to improve the national healthcare system, with Campos Fernandes emphasizing that the sector requires stability and efficiency over radical changes.

The widow of a man who died in Pombal during a strike by the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) testified before a parliamentary inquiry committee. She criticized the lack of minimum services during the walkout and demanded accountability for the delayed emergency response. Meanwhile, the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) is seeking legal opinions regarding the potential recall of INEM official Cristina Vaz Tomé.

Former Health Minister Manuel Pizarro has publicly stated that it is impossible for the Air Force to manage the national medical emergency helicopter service. Speaking before a parliamentary inquiry into the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM), Pizarro argued that the operation would require a level of staffing that the military cannot currently provide. He also criticized the handling of recent INEM strikes, claiming he had previously warned the current administration about the urgent need for a new tender.

Francisco Pinheiro Catalão has been sworn in as the new Secretary of State for Health Management. He succeeds Francisco Rocha Gonçalves, who was dismissed from the role at his own request.

The Inspectorate-General of Health Activities (Inspeção-Geral das Atividades em Saúde or IGAS) is investigating Eurico Castro Alves, the surgery director at Hospital de Santo António in Porto, for allegedly receiving 179,000 euros in irregular commissions. The payments were linked to surgeries performed outside normal working hours under the Integrated System for Management of Waiting Lists for Surgery (Sistema Integrado de Gestão de Inscritos para Cirurgia or SIGIC). While the IGAS report deems the payments irregular, both the doctor and the local health unit maintain that the compensation was legal.

The government approved an increase in the funeral allowance for minors and people with disabilities, raising the benefit from approximately 268 euros to 1,611 euros. Minister of the Presidency António Leitão Amaro stated the change corrects a discriminatory practice that previously limited reimbursement based on an individual's contributory career. The new amount is equivalent to three times the Social Support Index (Indexante de Apoios Sociais or IAS).

The Executive Board of the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) has rejected recommendations from the SINACC working group to shorten maximum response times for hospital appointments. The new regulations extend waiting periods for priority patients and omit a proposed seven-day triage window, drawing criticism from experts who warn of increased pressure on emergency departments. The SNS board maintains that the new rules are an improvement over previous legislation.

The Social Democratic Party (PSD) and CDS-People's Party (CDS-PP) have voted against a proposal to guarantee 100% sick pay for oncology patients. While the government recently increased support for parents of children with cancer, it argued against extending the full benefit to all cancer patients at this time. Patients and their families should note that the government has also established a new National Interministerial Coordination Commission for Long-Term Care (Comissão Nacional de Coordenação Interministerial dos Cuidados de Longa Duração) to improve elderly care services.

Correio da Manhã reports that while Portugal's national infant mortality rate stabilised in 2025, several municipalities — notably in the Algarve and Greater Lisbon — recorded infant mortality levels comparable to much poorer countries. The paper says rates rose in 2024 then stabilised last year, and it highlights local variations rather than a uniform national trend. Parents and residents in affected municipalities (concelhos) should follow local health-service information and regional initiatives addressing neonatal care.

The DE‑SNS has instructed public hospitals to halt planned increases in consultations and surgeries and told managers there is no room for additional hiring beyond planned staffing levels as a cost‑control measure. Hospital managers have expressed dissatisfaction, saying the move forces tighter local rationing of services to meet budget constraints. Those relying on public care should expect slower expansion of services and possible delays for non-urgent appointments.

Reports say minimum services during the INEM strike were not assured because of confusion between the ministry and the institute, leaving some emergency resources idle during the late-2024 paralysation. The Frente Comum coordinator said authorities should have guaranteed coverage, and multiple outlets describe planning and communication lapses that undermined the intended fallback system. The breakdown raises questions about how future health-sector strikes will be managed and whether emergency call handling will be prioritised. Those who rely on emergency medical services should note possible disruption during protests and follow local service bulletins.

A Dinheiro Vivo analysis argues the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde) needs a predictable, result-focused organisation, with Reference Centres and Hospital Referral Networks forming a structural pillar of quality and safety. The piece says formal universal access alone is not enough: without properly organised referral pathways and specialised centres, patient outcomes and system reliability suffer. The article highlights ongoing debates over how to structure specialised care in Portugal and how to measure results. Those who rely on the SNS should watch for administrative changes that could affect where and how specialised care is referred.

Local leaders in the Alentejo Litoral region, led by Vítor Proença of CIMAL (Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alentejo Litoral), have raised concerns about the 'dehumanisation' of services at the Hospital do Litoral Alentejano, citing reports of inadequate care for elderly and vulnerable patients. A meeting of municipalities and social institutions sought solutions and pledged coordinated action to improve care standards. Residents in the Alentejo Litoral should watch for local measures and any service reorganisations announced by municipal authorities.

The government acknowledges delays in finalising hospital performance contracts and their indicators for 2026 but says the lack of signed metrics will not affect current activity, and the process should finish by the end of March, Público reports. Hospitals and health centres are operating without the formal indicators while ministers and officials complete the contractual process. Patients and clinicians should monitor communications from their hospital administration if they rely on new programmes tied to 2026 performance agreements.

The Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde) knew there was excess mortality linked to prolonged waits for heart surgery but says it lacks authority to open formal inquiries, RTP reports. The report raises questions about oversight of long surgical waits and accountability inside the public health system. Those relying on public care should monitor local hospital waiting‑list communications and any formal investigations by regional health units. SNS patients should be aware of delays affecting time‑sensitive treatments.

The President of the Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, has promulgated a decree from the Assembly establishing an extraordinary process to clear pending cases at medical boards that assess incapacity, RTP and Correio da Manhã report. The move aims to reduce long delays for incapacity decisions and speed up benefit or employment-related outcomes for affected people. Those awaiting medical-board (juntas médicas) rulings should track notices from the health ministry and the boards handling their case.

Spending on Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation rose to €179.6 million in 2024, an increase of about 59% since 2021, the Entidade Reguladora da Saúde (ERS) reports. Público highlights that the rise in expenditure has not matched an expansion in contracted conventional supply, leaving gaps between demand and available services. Patients needing rehabilitation should expect waits and check availability at local health units; those relying on SNS services should ask their GP about public or contracted options.

Correio da Manhã reports the Ministério Público has opened a judicial inquiry (inquérito) into the deaths of a pregnant woman and her baby in the Azores. Authorities have launched the investigation to establish medical and procedural facts; the story is still developing. Those following healthcare provision in the Azores should watch for formal findings and any local service changes.

Correio da Manhã and Observador report supply difficulties affecting medications for glaucoma and ocular hypertension, with authorities allowing temporary substitution of package types in already issued prescriptions. Pharmacies and prescribers may swap equivalent presentations to keep patients supplied while shortages persist, according to the coverage. Patients who use these eye medicines should check with their pharmacy or GP about substitutions and ensure they keep follow-up appointments for monitoring. Those with glaucoma or ocular hypertension should confirm continuity plans with their clinic or pharmacist.

Update: Two glaucoma medicines reported affected

Observador says two specific medicines for glaucoma and ocular hypertension are facing supply problems; pharmacies continue to rely on permitted substitutions of equivalent presentations to avoid treatment gaps while shortages continue.

Público reports that a disused school in the Cerco area, closed to the public since 2023 because of drug-related problems, is being refurbished and repurposed as a local health unit (unidade local de saúde). The project aims to restore access to services in the neighbourhood while addressing safety concerns that had blocked entry. The conversion could improve nearby primary-care access and outreach for vulnerable residents. Those living near Cerco and users of local health services should watch for announcements about opening dates and available services.

Update: Refurbished pavilion will join existing health services

Público says the Porto council approved rehabilitation of the third pavilion of the former school; the refurbished space will join the Family Health Unit (Unidade de Saúde Familiar) Novo Sentido and the Community Care Unit (Unidade de Cuidados na Comunidade) already operating on the same complex, boosting local primary-care capacity.

RTP reports the new Waitlist Recovery Programme in Healthcare has sparked criticism from hospital managers who say the law restricts referrals and may violate patient rights, arguing it stops private-sector doctors from referring patients to public hospitals where they also work. The dispute centres on how cross-sector referrals will operate under the programme and whether it will slow patient flow rather than speed up access. Patients who use both private and public providers should check with their doctors and hospital administrations about referral rules and appointments. Those relying on mixed public-private care should monitor communications from their provider.

Update: Managers say law bars private-to-public referrals

RTP reports hospital managers say the Waitlist Recovery Programme prevents private-sector doctors from referring patients to public hospitals where they also practise, and they argue the restriction could breach patient rights and slow rather than speed access to care.

The Ordem dos Médicos warns that a 2025 portaria that set the cost-sharing regime has restricted prescriptions of certain diabetes medications and glucose sensors to specialists, creating “unnecessary barriers” and organisational strain in an already pressured system, Público and Correio da Manhã report. The medical body says limiting prescriptions to specialists in areas such as endocrinology and nutrition risks delaying access for patients who now must see specific consultants. Patients using sensors or new diabetes drugs should check plans with their GP and diabetes care team about local referral routes. Those managing diabetes in Portugal should monitor guidance from their clinic or health centre.

Update: Ordinance No. 170/2025/1 cited in warning

Diário de Notícias and Público identify the measure as Ordinance No. 170/2025/1, saying it confines prescriptions for certain glucose sensors and newer diabetes drugs to a narrow set of specialties (including endocrinology and nutrition), which the Ordem dos Médicos says could delay access and create organisational strain even if the rule aims to control spending.