Latest news and stories about public safety in health in Portugal for expats and residents.
This laboratory tests helmets intensively to find out how safe they really are.

Given the foetus's size and degree of development, health professionals believe the pregnancy was at least around 30 weeks.

Pedro Roque, who worked with the rink hockey team, is one of the suspects in Operation Harry Potter, which arrested four people caught in the act.

The victim suffered, among other injuries, punctures to the heart and lungs. The suspect is in pre-trial detention.

António Guerreiro was producing champions in the municipality of Oeiras. He injected them with illegal drugs.

The Public Prosecutor's Office has today opened an investigation into the case of a foetus found dead at Hospital CUF Tejo in Lisbon, after a woman gave birth there under circumstances that are still being established.

A woman is alleged to have given birth in a hospital bathroom to a stillborn foetus of around 30 weeks and then attempted to dispose of the body in the toilet.

Given the size and stage of development of the foetus, healthcare professionals consider the pregnancy would have been at least around 30 weeks' gestation.

The victim suffered multiple blows to the chest near the Galerias de Paris on 13 June, leaving them in a life‑threatening condition. The defendant has been remanded in custody awaiting trial since the attack.

The poisoning was caused by a brazier, according to authorities. The victims were taken to Beja Hospital.

Contacted by Lusa, an INEM source denied that the monthly supplement payment of about €140 to the military personnel concerned is overdue, stating that the transfers “were made on 19 December”.

Hospital de São José in Lisbon mistakenly handed a family's coffin the wrong body; the error was discovered moments before a planned wake and the hospital has opened an internal inquiry. Reports identify the deceased and note an identification bracelet mismatch; the case has drawn extra attention because the family is related to public figure Manuel Luís Goucha. Those arranging funerals or dealing with hospital paperwork should expect the inquiry and any procedural follow‑up from the hospital.
Hospital de São José is a major public hospital in central Lisbon, part of the Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Lisboa Central (CHULC), that provides emergency, inpatient and specialist care to the capital region. Because it is one of Lisbon’s principal hospitals, incidents such as the reported mistaken release of the wrong body draw national scrutiny and can raise concerns about procedures for patient and post‑mortem identification; patients and families using Lisbon hospitals should be aware of their rights and complaint channels.

Researchers report Portugal's first identified cases of Candida auris, a drug‑resistant fungal pathogen of concern in healthcare settings; outlets say the finding underscores the need for strengthened surveillance and infection‑control measures. Those receiving care in hospitals and long‑term facilities should expect heightened attention to hygiene protocols and, where relevant, screening or isolation procedures.
Candida auris is an emerging, often multidrug‑resistant yeast that can cause serious bloodstream and invasive infections, especially in hospitalized or immunocompromised patients. It spreads in healthcare settings, can persist on surfaces, is hard to treat with standard antifungals, and the first identified cases in Portugal are significant for hospital infection‑control measures rather than indicating widespread community risk.

Civil Protection director José Manuel Moura has ruled out any illegality in the ad-hoc reinforcement of eight ambulances organised by the Portuguese Firefighters' League over the weekend. After meetings with INEM and the Firefighters' League, Moura attributed the dispute to a communication failure by the League and said the situation created a misunderstanding that must not recur. He insisted that ANEPC (Civil Protection) should be formally involved in future emergency operations to ensure coordination and public safety.

A fire at the Torre Sénior care home in Santo Tirso forced the evacuation of about 40 residents overnight; firefighters extinguished the blaze and authorities reported no injuries. Residents were triaged by teams from the Portuguese National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) and temporarily housed in a municipal pavilion while the cause is investigated. Those with relatives in care homes should contact the facility for status updates and next steps; local councils handle temporary placements for evacuated residents.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica), known as INEM, coordinates Portugal’s pre-hospital emergency care, ambulance dispatch and medical response to 112 calls. It matters to expats because INEM is responsible for ambulance response times and on-scene care — incidents like the reported three-hour wait in Seixal can trigger investigations, affect public confidence and influence how quickly you can expect help in an emergency.

Press reviews report the Portuguese state has paid about €1.5 million in compensation to prisoners since 2016, while roughly 854 compensation claims remain pending, with individual awards noted in reports between about €12,000 and €144,000. The figures underline ongoing legal and human-rights concerns over prison conditions and backlog in resolving claims. Expats working in social services, law or advocacy should watch for potential reforms and budgetary consequences as the justice system responds to mounting claims.

The National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil or ANEPC) has opened an inquiry into an ambulance 'task force' set up by the Portuguese Firefighters’ League (Liga dos Bombeiros Portugueses or LBP), calling the operation illegal and 'marginally created'. ANEPC told Lusa it will investigate whether the reinforcement complied with rules for pre-hospital rescue operations. Expats relying on emergency services should note the inquiry could affect availability of volunteer-run ambulance support in some areas while regulators review the operation.
Update: Multiple outlets report the LBP rejects ANEPC's claim, saying the temporary task force was set up to bolster pre-hospital cover and lamenting a lack of dialogue; the League named four ambulances from Ajuda, Cabo Ruivo, Camarate and Cascais brigades as part of the reinforcement. Coverage shows a clear disagreement between the regulator (ANEPC) and the LBP about legality and procedure — the probe may lead to operational changes while authorities review compliance with pre-hospital rescue rules. Expats should be aware volunteer-led ambulance support may be disrupted in some areas during the inquiry.
The Portuguese Firefighters' League (Liga dos Bombeiros Portugueses) is a national, non-governmental association that represents and coordinates many of Portugal’s fire brigades—particularly volunteer corps—and advocates for training, equipment and fire-safety policy. It frequently engages with government and the media on emergency-response standards and resource needs, so expats should know it can influence local fire services, public safety campaigns and how mutual aid is organised in their municipality.
ANEPC is the National Authority for Emergency and Civil Protection (Autoridade Nacional de Emergência e Proteção Civil). It is the state body that coordinates civil-protection planning, emergency response and oversight of fire and rescue services across Portugal, and it has authority to investigate operations it deems irregular — which is why it can open an inquiry into the LBP’s ambulance task force. For expats, ANEPC issues national alerts, guidance on evacuations and rules that affect volunteer and professional emergency responders in your area.

The Portuguese Firefighters' League (LBP) has established a weekend task force of four additional ambulances to bolster pre-hospital emergency response and ease pressure on hospitals. The emergency vehicles — drawn from the Ajuda, Cabo Ruivo, Camarate and Cascais brigades — will be based at the LBP headquarters, while a commander will be on permanent duty at CAASO (Centre for Operational Monitoring and Support) to coordinate operations. The deployment is a targeted, short-term capacity boost intended to improve response times during busy periods and provide centralised operational oversight.

The prime minister announced what was described as “the largest investment in ambulances in over a decade” — 275 new vehicles — less than 36 hours after three citizens were reported to have died while waiting for care. Critics have called the timing “strange” and labelled the move demagoguery, arguing it risks masking systemic negligence in emergency services rather than addressing deeper policy and resourcing failures in healthcare and public safety. The episode has intensified calls for transparent planning, independent oversight and comprehensive reforms to emergency medical services rather than one-off equipment purchases.

The coordinator of INEM’s Workers’ Committee acknowledged failings in how minimum-service requirements were communicated during the late‑2024 strike, saying the institution’s president had conveyed that minimum services were not required during overtime hours. The admission raises operational and public‑safety concerns, highlights potential legal and labour‑relations implications, and underscores the need for clearer protocols, stronger internal communication and contingency planning to protect emergency healthcare delivery during industrial action.

Update: New reporting puts more than 420 patients waiting for an initial assessment in hospital emergency departments today, slightly lower than earlier figures of 440–470 published in our previous update; numbers vary by hospital and by outlet. The persistent delays are being reported alongside a broader flu surge and strained emergency services, keeping pressure on admissions and ambulance handovers. For expats, expect longer waits for non-urgent A&E care and consider contacting your family doctor or using scheduled appointments where possible.
Update: New outlet figures give local detail — a national average urgent-patient wait of about 3 hours 16 minutes, with much longer waits at some hospitals (Amadora‑Sintra reported ~11 hours; Santa Maria ~6 hours). Sources vary on the exact totals and some hospitals report better performance; overall coverage emphasises regional differences and continued pressure on admissions and ambulance handovers. Practical takeaway for expats: plan non-urgent care in advance and check local hospital performance if choosing a referral or appointment.
Update: New analysis highlights structural problems beyond seasonal pressure: successive hospital mergers have created large Local Health Units (Unidades Locais de Saúde), some with budgets reported above €1bn, but observers say management capacity has not kept pace and individual hospitals have lost identity. The reporting links those governance issues to dysfunctions such as trolleying and delayed ambulance handovers in the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). For expats this reinforces earlier practical advice — expect variability between hospitals, consider non-emergency options and register with a family doctor where possible.
Update: RTP reports hospitals are now struggling to admit a rising number of patients with respiratory problems, adding pressure to A&E triage and inpatient beds at a time of high seasonal demand. This increase is being cited by hospital sources as a driver of current delays.
Update: Admiral Carlos Gouveia e Melo has publicly called for changes to leadership in the health sector, accusing the State of failing to meet deadlines and urging new appointments to improve management and accountability. His criticism adds a political voice to coverage that links structural governance issues with current operational stresses in emergency departments.
Update: Reporting in Público and CNN Portugal says the dermatology service at Hospital Egas Moniz, part of the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde de Lisboa Ocidental), was judged in October 2024 to lack conditions of “safety, health and hygiene” and still has no set date for relocation; authorities had recommended relocation but no timetable has been published. The situation may disrupt specialist outpatient dermatology care in Lisbon while a resolution is sought.
An intensive care unit (Portuguese: unidade de cuidados intensivos) is a specialised hospital ward that provides close monitoring and life-sustaining treatment for critically ill patients using advanced equipment and highly trained staff. ICU capacity is frequently mentioned because it signals how many severe patients a health system can care for — when ICUs are full, hospitals may delay surgeries, limit admissions or transfer patients, so expats should check insurance and hospital policies for critical-care coverage and visitation rules.
Staffing and shift schedules in the SNS combine permanent doctors, residents and temporary cover (locums or overtime) arranged by each hospital's Clinical Directorate ("Direção Clínica"), which plans rotas to cover on‑call and emergency shifts. Rotas are subject to national labour rules, collective agreements and local shortages, so hospitals may use voluntary shift swaps, incentives or external contractors when regular staff are unavailable.
Local Health Units (Unidade Local de Saúde) are organisational bodies within Portugal's National Health Service that group hospitals and associated primary-care services under a single management and budget; some now oversee operations with budgets exceeding €1 billion. Successive mergers into these units can blur hospital identities and, as reported, create gaps in management capacity — which may affect service coordination, waiting times and how patients register or access specialised care. For expats this matters because it can change which hospital or family doctor you are directed to, how referrals work, and where to send complaints or requests about continuity of care.
Amadora‑Sintra refers to the public hospital serving the adjoining municipalities of Amadora and Sintra in the Lisbon metropolitan area—commonly called Hospital Amadora‑Sintra, especially its emergency department (serviço de urgência). It is a major suburban emergency and inpatient centre that often runs at high capacity, so safety incidents or staffing problems there can quickly affect waiting times and access to urgent care for expats living in west/northwest Lisbon.
Carlos Gouveia e Melo is a retired Portuguese Navy admiral who became a national public figure when he was appointed at the end of 2020 to lead Portugal’s COVID-19 vaccination task force. He oversaw the vaccine rollout through 2021, gaining a reputation for clear communication and logistical focus; his work directly affected vaccine access for residents and foreigners living in Portugal.

RTP (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal) is Portugal's state-owned public service broadcaster, operating since 1935 (radio) and 1957 (television). It runs 8 television channels (including RTP1, RTP2, RTP3) and 7 radio stations (Antena 1, 2, 3), plus international services reaching Portuguese diaspora worldwide. Funded by a broadcasting tax on electricity bills and advertising revenue, RTP serves as Portugal's cultural reference, providing quality news, education, and entertainment. Its archive represents "irreplaceable heritage in Portuguese collective memory", and it pioneered online streaming with RTP Play in 2011. RTP connects "Portugal and the Portuguese to themselves, to each other, and to the world"
An Unidade Local de Saúde de Lisboa Ocidental (Lisbon Western Local Health Unit) is a public regional health organisation that plans and delivers NHS services in western Lisbon, coordinating hospitals, primary-care centres, emergency care and specialised outpatient clinics as part of Portugal's National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). It matters now because this unit is the local authority handling recent decisions around the relocation of dermatology services at Egas Moniz, so those relying on public healthcare should check its notices for appointment changes and new locations.

El Nacional reports that Donald Trump pressed Venezuela’s interim government for total control of the country’s oil resources — a demand with clear geopolitical and economic consequences that raises questions about sovereignty, access to revenues and the role of external actors in a fragile political transition. Separately, Jornal Público’s analysis shows that between 2019 and 2024 some 75 per cent of drivers who died with alcohol in their system had blood-alcohol levels meeting the threshold for a criminal offence, spotlighting enforcement gaps, road-safety policy failures and the need for improved prevention and data collection. Taken together, the items illustrate linked governance challenges: contested control over strategic resources on one hand, and systemic public‑safety and criminal‑justice issues on the other.

Road fatalities and related casualties cost an estimated €1.5 billion in 2025, while overall road casualty levels have effectively returned to 2016 figures. The year saw more collisions and a rise in injuries, maintaining pressure on emergency services and the healthcare system and undermining public safety. Economically, the persistent casualty rate represents a significant indirect and direct cost that acts as a negative indicator for public finances and productivity. The pattern suggests a need for renewed, targeted prevention measures, enhanced enforcement and investment in safer infrastructure to reverse the trend and reduce both human and fiscal costs.

The Clinical Directorate of the Algarve Local Health Unit told CM that there had been a peak in attendances.

On Saturday the obstetrics and gynaecology emergency departments at the hospitals in Abrantes, Setúbal and Portimão, and the obstetrics emergency department in Vila Franca de Xira, will be closed. The Setúbal emergency department reopens on Sunday.

Jornal de Notícias reports that at least 108 people were intentionally murdered in 2025, marking the highest number of homicides since 2018. Separately, the President of the Republic returned three decree-laws to the Government that sought to implement reforms in the health sector, a move with legal and political implications for emergency services, public safety and ongoing healthcare policy changes. These developments highlight rising concerns about violent crime alongside contested attempts to reshape healthcare governance.


Portugal Resident •