Latest news and stories about medical services in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Emergency departments are facing significant overcrowding as urgent patients endure long wait times, driven by a shortage of family doctors, extreme heat, and post-holiday surges.
The Portuguese Fertility Association is calling for urgent support and continuity of care for patients affected by the sudden closure of a fertility clinic in Cascais.
The Minister of Health has acknowledged a significant increase in waiting times at Amadora-Sintra Hospital, which have now reached nine hours, highlighting ongoing challenges in healthcare service delivery.
The Minister of Health has expressed significant concern regarding the critical shortage of anaesthesiologists, highlighting the impact on medical services, particularly within the Lisbon region.
The Portuguese Ministry of Health plans to identify new regional emergency services by late November, focusing on orthopaedic care in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region to modernize the decade-old National Health Service network.
The Amadora-Sintra hospital is facing a critical backlog with 19 patients awaiting orthopaedic surgery, prompting a request for a regional solution after receiving transfers from other major facilities.
The Amadora-Sintra Hospital has pledged to add 13 nurses to its emergency department following staff protests, though the Nurses' Association argues this increase fails to address the critical staffing shortages and long patient wait times.
The Santa Maria Local Health Unit is expected to launch a revised tender for the USF Lumiar project, aiming to address the needs of 8,000 patients currently lacking a family doctor.
The Lourinhã Health Centre has officially reopened following extensive renovations to its infrastructure, including roofing, climate control, and electrical systems, after operating from temporary modular facilities since December.
The first privately managed Family Health Unit (USF-C) has launched in Torres Vedras, marking the start of a 38.2 million euro initiative to provide family doctors to 94,000 patients across ten new units.
The first privately managed Family Health Unit has launched in Torres Vedras, marking a delayed milestone in the government's Health Emergency Plan to improve patient care efficiency.
Emergency departments are experiencing significant wait times for urgent patients, with extreme heat identified as a contributing factor affecting vulnerable elderly individuals.
CUF CEO Rui Diniz announced that the healthcare group has successfully integrated over 20 artificial intelligence applications, significantly enhancing clinical operations and service delivery.
A research team led by Paula Videira at NOVA University Lisbon has developed a breakthrough antibody that precisely differentiates cancer cells from healthy tissue, earning the scientist a nomination for the European Inventor Award.
A former INEM employee, João Figueira, passed away at Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures after suffering a heart attack and experiencing delays in his scheduled surgery due to the facility's lack of specialized equipment.
Spanish healthcare group Ribera is actively pursuing new public-private partnership opportunities in Portugal, with leadership currently awaiting feasibility studies to guide their expansion strategy.
The Human Resources Director of ULS Lisboa Ocidental has been suspended and faces disciplinary action following allegations of workplace harassment, including an incident where an employee was reportedly restrained with adhesive tape.
The Vila Franca de Xira hospital is working to rebuild its gynaecology and obstetrics department after significant staff losses, following its integration into Portugal's first regional emergency service.
The first suspected case of hantavirus in Portugal has been officially confirmed as negative following medical testing in Lisbon.
Despite a significant increase in intensive care capacity over the last decade, half of the country's services currently report closed beds primarily due to a critical shortage of nursing staff.
Health workers have launched a two-day strike to advocate for improved wages and working conditions, featuring a planned demonstration in Lisbon.
The external paediatric surgery emergency department at Dona Estefânia Hospital will remain closed until Sunday.
Emergency services were dispatched to assist a blind patient in Lisbon, but INEM ultimately denied the request for hospital transport.
The Centralised Gynaecology and Obstetrics Emergency Department of Loures-Odivelas/Tejo Estuary recorded 201 births during its inaugural month of operation, meeting expected performance targets.
A report by the General Inspectorate for Health Activities has ordered Santa Maria Hospital dermatology teams to repay over €818,000 for improper surgery payments authorized between 2021 and 2025, a period involving the current Minister of Health.
Approximately 50 protesters gathered at the Ministry of Health to demand the preservation of gynaecology and obstetrics emergency services, marking the conclusion of a week-long campaign by the Movement of Public Service Users for increased SNS investment.
The Portuguese National Health Service is launching lung cancer screening pilot projects at the Gaia/Espinho and Santa Maria local health units following a new government order.
A protest in Lisbon highlights the deteriorating state of the NHS, with a specific focus on the controversial reorganisation of emergency services.
The regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency department in Loures reported a 23% increase in patient volume, averaging 43 daily visits compared to the previous average of 35.
Artificial intelligence is revolutionising tuberculosis diagnosis by enabling rapid identification via chest X-rays, helping to combat the disease's stigma and improve early intervention for respiratory conditions.
