Latest news and stories about medical services in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
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.
Mayors are seeking meetings with political parties to address the negative impact of obstetric emergency service closures on local populations, particularly those in remote areas.
Anselmo Crespo argues that the new regional emergency department in Loures fails to address the critical, long-term shortage of healthcare professionals causing service closures across Portugal.
The Beatriz Ângelo Hospital in Loures launches the first regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency department, operating 24/7 to address healthcare staffing shortages.
A new gynaecology and obstetrics referral network is being implemented in Portugal, centralising patient flow to Loures while highlighting critical staffing shortages across multiple regional hospitals.
A new centralised obstetrics and gynaecology emergency unit is set to open at Loures Hospital to address staffing shortages and ensure 24/7 service coverage, despite ongoing challenges in other regions.
CNN Portugal spent time inside CODU, INEM’s medical call centre in Lisbon and found a centre under sustained pressure where high call volumes demand rapid, accurate triage and careful deployment of ambulances and other rescue resources. The report examines how operators prioritise calls, the protocols guiding decision-making, and the operational strain of matching limited resources to urgent needs.
Ten years ago, Garcia de Orta Hospital in Almada opened the first hospital-at-home unit. Today there are already 50 Local Health Units offering this service — a way of delivering healthcare to 400 patients receiving inpatient care outside the hospital.
Four gynaecology and obstetrics emergency departments have been closed. In Amadora‑Sintra only the gynaecology emergency department is shut; meanwhile the general emergency at Hospital Fernando Fonseca (Amadora‑Sintra) reported a three‑hour wait for patients classed as very urgent as of 20:00, according to the SNS Portal. Santa Maria recorded a two‑and‑a‑half‑hour wait for very urgent cases, and Hospital de Loures topped the waiting‑time list with around three‑hour waits for urgent patients.
Empathy, ethics, the integration of public, social, and private systems, and the benefits of using artificial intelligence in healthcare were the main topics at the DN Grand Conference. Experts discussed how digital transition is vital, yet AI cannot replace the 'human doctor' or the essential role of empathy in patient care. The panel also addressed the need for better health literacy, the importance of investment in increasingly expensive medical technologies, and the necessity for interoperable data systems across hospitals.
The Amadora-Sintra Local Health Unit (ULS) is holding a two-day 'solidarity marathon' to encourage voluntary blood donations. The initiative, taking place on June 15 and 16 at the Fernando Fonseca Hospital, aims to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and provide extended hours for donors. This follows World Blood Donor Day on June 14. Additionally, during Lisbon's popular festivals, the GNR police force arrested 78 people and caught 264 drivers under the influence of alcohol in four hours. Meanwhile, eight districts are under a yellow weather warning for thunderstorms and showers until 9:00 PM.
The '24 Hours of Blood Donation' initiative, marking World Blood Donor Day celebrated today, will take place over the next two days between 08:00 and 20:00 at the Blood and Transfusion Medicine Service of Hospital Fernando Fonseca, the institution announced in a statement.
The Amadora-Sintra Local Health Unit is hosting a blood donation marathon on Monday and Tuesday, aimed at raising awareness of the importance of voluntary donation and mobilising patients and the community.
The Amadora-Sintra Local Health Unit is hosting a blood donation marathon over the next two days. Additionally, the Portuguese Institute of Blood and Transplantation (IPST) reports a downward trend in the number of donors in Portugal.
To donate blood, you must be between 18 and 69 years old, weigh more than 50 kilograms, and have healthy lifestyle habits.
The union says the problem is affecting health services in the Alentejo and Greater Lisbon regions. However, a source from the SPMS guarantees that, in general terms, the system is functioning normally.
