Latest news and stories about government policy in health in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
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 union considers it unacceptable to attempt to amend a structural law such as the INEM Organic Law via decree, without promoting a broad debate or discussion in Parliament.
The new President took office in Belém, emphasizing the need for national stability while highlighting critical challenges including an ageing population, healthcare and housing deficits, and a slow judicial system.
In the first three months of his term, the President of the Republic advocated for political dialogue, vetoed a parliamentary bill, and placed healthcare among the priorities of his actions.
Minister Gonçalo Matias claims that the Court of Auditors and its prior visa mechanism delayed the new Lisbon Oriental Hospital by years, resulting in an additional 164 million euro cost. Speaking at a Diário de Notícias conference, the minister defended the government's proposed reforms to the Court of Auditors, arguing that its current oversight powers and financial liability rules for public managers are anachronistic, paralyze public administration, and discourage qualified professionals from taking public roles.
Follow our live coverage of the DN 2026 Grand Conference at the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon. The event features discussions on global affairs, including the US-Iran peace agreement, with insights from Leonor Beleza, Marco Galinha, and Filipe Alves. The conference highlights the importance of journalism, dialogue, and community, with closing remarks from President António José Seguro and government representation including António Leitão Amaro, Gonçalo Saraiva Matias, and Joaquim Miranda Sarmento.
In this opinion piece, the author criticises Lisbon Mayor Carlos Moedas, labelling him 'the Stager' due to the failure of his 'Lisboa 65+' health plan. A Court of Auditors report revealed that the plan, which promised 24/7 medical care for the elderly, was largely a marketing exercise, with nearly as much money spent on advertising as on actual patient care. The author contrasts this wasteful spending with the city's recent decision to cut school meal subsidies for many families, arguing that Moedas prioritises self-promotion over the needs of Lisbon's citizens.
Pre-hospital emergency technicians are set to protest on Wednesday, May 27, outside the Assembly of the Republic against the planned reorganization of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM). The union (STEPH) argues that the government's reforms, including the new Organic Law, threaten the quality and capacity of emergency response by reducing the number of ambulances and potentially privatizing services. Former INEM presidents have also expressed concern over the changes, particularly regarding the reassignment of emergency vehicles and the shift of responsibilities to other entities.
The goal of the proposal is to “create recognition” and “raise awareness of the importance of donating blood,” helping to increase the number of daily donors needed.
During the 2024 election campaign, the AD coalition promised an emergency health plan to be executed by the end of 2025. However, a report from the Health Regulatory Authority (ERS) shows that all National Health Service indicators have worsened. By the end of 2025, over one million patients were waiting for their first specialist consultation, a 17% increase from 2024, with 43.7% exceeding the guaranteed maximum response time. The OncoStop program also failed, with oncology surgeries decreasing by 3% and waiting lists growing by 9%. Additionally, the number of patients without a family doctor exceeded 1.6 million in early 2026. In education, the government has failed to provide accurate data on teacher shortages, while secondary school completion and higher education enrollment have dropped by 10%. In housing, prices rose by nearly 19% in 2025, reaching a record high in April 2026. In Lisbon, residents spent an average of 116% of their salary on housing, making home ownership increasingly unattainable. These failures in health, education, and housing demonstrate a significant decline in the quality of life for citizens.
Physician João Varandas Fernandes, former vice-president of CDS-PP and Benfica, has been appointed by António José Seguro to the Medical Support Service of the Presidency of the Republic. The appointment, published in the Diário da República, includes a salary equivalent to 83.80% of an advisor's pay. Varandas Fernandes, who publicly supported Seguro's presidential bid, joins other recent appointees to the Civil House, including economist Jorge Marrão and writer Francisco José Viegas. Additionally, the President has selected Adalberto Campos Fernandes to coordinate the Strategic Pact for Health.
The President of the Republic is meeting with all social partners, including the CGTP, which had been excluded from negotiations. Additionally, the Government promises to find a solution for the INEM's debts to the fire departments.
Cristina Vaz Tomé says she was not informed about the strike notices and only learned of the stoppage when she arrived in Lisbon, by which time it was already underway. Her statements were contested by the PS, Chega, and IL.
The Ministry of National Defence and the Independent Doctors' Union (SIM) signed an agreement on Thursday, April 16, to regulate and improve the careers of civilian and military healthcare professionals at the Armed Forces Hospital (HFAR). The agreement resolves a long-standing impasse regarding career progression, including automatic advancement for consultants and the first senior assistant competition in over two decades. Defence Minister Nuno Melo highlighted the move as a priority for military health, also announcing a 14-million-euro investment in a new surgical centre and advanced medical equipment to ensure the hospital remains a centre of excellence.
Imagine the revelry that is going on, of which we have no knowledge.
The President of the Republic, António José Seguro, received the Secretary-General of the PS, José Luís Carneiro, at the Belém Palace.
Francisco Pinheiro Catalão, who replaced Francisco Rocha Gonçalves.
The proposal for the dismissal of the outgoing Secretary of State for Health Management has received the green light from Belém.
The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Belém Palace at 16:00.
The new government official replaces Francisco Rocha Gonçalves.
For the first time in Portugal, menopause is being established as a matter of public health, equality, and human rights, moving away from being treated as a private, silent process. The topic is the focus of the international forum 'Menopause and Human Rights – From Law to Commitment', taking place in Lisbon, which aims to translate recent legal frameworks into concrete public policies. With approximately three million women in Portugal affected, experts like Cristina Mesquita de Oliveira and Rosa Monteiro argue that institutional support remains insufficient, calling for better medical training, the end of social stigma, and universal access to care to ensure equality in the workplace and beyond.
Technicians gathered in front of the Ministry of Health in Lisbon.
The situation is concerning, especially as studies conducted by the National Health Service (SNS) hospitals indicate that “30% to 50% of hospitalised patients are at nutritional risk”. This was confirmed to DN by Aníbal Marinho, president of the Portuguese Association of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition (APNEP), which endorses a document with “10 Recommendations for Clinical Nutrition” to be released on Wednesday, the 5th, at the Strategic Forum on Clinical Nutrition in Lisbon. According to Marinho, this document represents the first coordinated strategic nutritional plan aimed at raising awareness among politicians, government officials, professionals, and society about the issue of clinical nutrition, or rather, malnutrition. The document is supported by six entities, including the Portuguese Society of Oncology and the Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine, highlighting a concerted concern in the sector. The timing of the document's release coincides with the one-year anniversary of a significant achievement in this area, the Portaria n.º 82/2025/1, which defined the co-payment for enteral nutrition. However, the document also aims to alert that while legislative achievements are important, practical integration of Clinical Nutrition in the SNS remains incomplete. Nutritional screening is not uniformly implemented across hospitals and primary care, and barriers persist that hinder the fight against malnutrition in hospitalised patients. Marinho emphasises the need to show that malnutrition is a societal issue, not just one for APNEP or other associations. He recalls that since 2016, initiatives in clinical nutrition have been ongoing, with some successes, but more needs to be done. The strategic plan includes ten recommendations aimed at expanding systematic nutritional risk screening and ensuring continuous training for multidisciplinary teams, among other goals, to improve the management of malnutrition in the healthcare system.
Authorities/experts warn that Lisbon’s high-risk seismic areas are unsuitable locations for sensitive facilities — in particular hospitals — because of the danger posed by earthquakes.
The European Commission has decided to reinforce security checks at Lisbon airport using personnel from the GNR (National Republican Guard) after an inspection uncovered serious failings. Also, five gynaecology and obstetrics emergency departments are closed today.
The Government has removed the third administration of ULS São José (Local Health Unit) in Lisbon.
The Inspector General of Health states that everyone failed in controlling additional surgeries at Santa Maria Hospital. In a parliamentary committee hearing, it was revealed that the last three boards of directors of Santa Maria are responsible for the abuses committed in the Dermatology Service.
Rui Gonçalves emphasises that there will be no acceptance of any job cuts or forced mobility. Additionally, Hospital Santa Maria tightens rules on extra surgeries.
The report highlights a 126% increase in the number of births among non-resident foreign women from 2023 to 2024.
