Infrastructure: Healthcare news in Portugal

The electronic medical prescription system (Prescrição Eletrónica Médica or PEM) was unavailable for 18 minutes on Tuesday morning. The Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (Serviços Partilhados do Ministério da Saúde or SPMS) attributed the instability to ongoing maintenance following a power failure last Friday.

Technical issues within the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) computer systems are still causing delays in prescription processing and appointment access. While the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (Serviços Partilhados do Ministério da Saúde or SPMS) reports that systems are generally functioning, unions warn that disruptions persist in regions including Alentejo and Greater Lisbon.

Update: IT failures continue to disrupt NHS health services

Union sources confirmed that as of this weekend, specific locations still face technical barriers preventing the processing of digital medical prescriptions.

Information systems across the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) are now almost fully operational after a power outage caused widespread disruptions on Friday. The Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (Serviços Partilhados do Ministério da Saúde or SPMS) confirmed that services were gradually restored throughout the day and that the issuance of prescriptions remained guaranteed during the incident.

The Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde or DGS) stated there is no evidence of secondary transmission following a repatriation flight that included a Canadian passenger confirmed to have Hantavirus. The individual had previously traveled on the cruise ship Hondius, and health authorities maintain that there is no increased risk to the population in Portugal.

The external paediatric surgery emergency department at Hospital Dona Estefânia in Lisbon will remain closed until Sunday at 8:00 PM. The clinical director cited a critical shortage of anaesthesiology staff as the reason for the temporary suspension of emergency surgical services.

Dozens of citizens gathered in Setúbal for a public forum organized by the Portuguese Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP) to demand more doctors and improved services within the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). Participants criticized the current state of digital infrastructure, noting that the SNS24 app often acts as a barrier to care rather than a solution. The PCP accused the government of neglecting public health facilities while failing to address the shortage of family doctors.

The Portuguese Firefighters League (Liga dos Bombeiros Portugueses or LBP) has unanimously voted to terminate its cooperation agreement with the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM). The decision follows a 20 million euro debt owed to the firefighters for pre-hospital services. The termination will take effect 120 days after formal notification, potentially impacting emergency response services.

Update: Government promises solution for INEM debt to firefighters

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves promised this Saturday that the government will find a solution in the coming days to resolve the outstanding payments. INEM acknowledged the debt, citing a need for budgetary reinforcement, and assured that emergency services will not be interrupted during the transition.

A new regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency department has opened on the Setúbal Peninsula, operating across the Garcia de Orta Hospital in Almada and the São Bernardo Hospital in Setúbal. The reorganization follows the permanent closure of the emergency service in Barreiro, a move that faced significant opposition from local mayors and patient organizations. The new department continues to rely on temporary doctors (médicos tarefeiros) to maintain service coverage.