Latest news and stories about medical services in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
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.
The Ministry of Health is awaiting a study—which should have already been delivered—to provide the basis for the Public-Private Partnerships. The private group that manages Cascais Hospital maintains its interest. The government is prioritizing hospitals currently under construction.
Signed in Rome, the agreement between the two foundations aims to develop advanced non-profit cell therapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases.
The screening programme starts between July and September at health centres in Lisbon, Coimbra, and Porto. More than four thousand five-year-old children will be tested during their vaccination.
Fertility needs to be on the European political agenda as a public health priority. This was the central message of the 'Tackling Infertility' summit, which brought together policymakers, experts, and representatives of patient associations from several European countries in Lisbon.
The initiative comes in a context where Portugal continues to have above-average rates regarding HIV and hepatitis. More than 50 pharmacies in Lisbon will provide free and rapid screenings.
The project aims to try to reduce cases of late diagnosis in Portugal.
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.
A Portuguese study on ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, involving 98 patients with treatment-resistant depression, suggests the substance is safe when used in a supervised clinical setting. According to Paulo Cleto Duarte of the Clinic of Change, the treatment showed no unexpected adverse effects and maintained a well-established safety profile. The findings, which will be presented in Lisbon, were validated by international experts David Nutt and Celia Morgan. The study reported clinically relevant reductions in depression, anxiety, and functional impairment, with consistent results observed in follow-ups up to 12 months after the ten-session treatment program.
PSP called to stop disorder created by suspect at Lisbon hospital. She attempted to assault officers.
Lisbon, Alentejo, and Braga are launching a pilot prostate cancer screening program for 20,000 patients, focusing on populations with limited access to healthcare and the early detection of the disease.
Two hundred road accident victims enter the Alcoitão Rehabilitation Centre every year.
The CODU dispatched emergency services from the Arruda dos Vinhos Fire Department to Lisbon, but ultimately refused transport to the hospital.
