Private births drive Portugal's rising caesarean rate
Reporting shows the two maternity units with the highest birth volumes in Portugal are private hospitals, a shift linked to a national rise in caesarean sections. The data indicate Portugal's overall caesarean rate has reached record highs, while within the National Health Service the Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital remains the busiest public maternity. Expectant parents should compare care models and discuss delivery plans with their providers.
Update: Público confirms that higher birth volumes in the private sector are associated with the rise in caesarean deliveries and echoes national headlines that the caesarean rate is at a record high; the article does not report immediate changes to policy or hospital practice.
The Alfredo da Costa Maternity Hospital (Maternidade Alfredo da Costa) is Lisbon’s main public maternity centre and the busiest maternity within Portugal’s SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde). For residents and expectant parents it is a key referral hospital for high‑risk pregnancies and neonatal care and often handles more births and complex cases than other public units.
A caesarean section (C‑section) is a surgical delivery in which a baby is born through incisions in the mother’s abdomen and uterus rather than by vaginal birth. It has higher medical risks and a longer recovery than most vaginal births; the World Health Organization advises an approximate 10–15% population rate, while many countries and private‑sector providers record substantially higher rates, which affects costs and care choices for patients.
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