Latest news and stories about medical services in technology in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Coimbra Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde or ULS) has successfully performed the first robot-assisted endoscopic ear surgery in Portugal. The procedure demonstrates high safety and precision, marking a significant advancement in surgical innovation for the national health system. The ULS of Coimbra is also noted for its capacity to work with all available models of cochlear implant electrodes.
The Portuguese unicorn Sword Health has partnered with the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS) to offer remote, AI-driven physiotherapy across all public hospitals and health centers. The service will be available to patients at no cost, marking a significant integration of private health technology into the public sector.
ULS Alto Ave is the Alto Ave Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde do Alto Ave), a public body that runs hospitals and some primary-care services for the Ave area in northern Portugal. It is part of the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS), and recent staff strikes have affected overtime and complementary work, so residents should check local hospital notices before visiting.
The Almada-Seixal Local Health Unit reports it has not received official notification regarding the IGAS inspection into the Garcia de Orta Hospital following the suspension of voluntary pregnancy termination services.
The Portuguese government has mandated that hospitals must ensure timely abortion services and cover associated costs following reports of service disruptions at Garcia de Orta Hospital due to staffing shortages and planning failures.
The Left Bloc has requested an urgent ministerial hearing following the suspension of voluntary pregnancy termination services at Garcia de Orta Hospital, raising concerns that abortion access is becoming a right in name only.
An IT system error caused significantly inflated emergency waiting times to be displayed for Faro and Portimão hospitals, a claim denied by the ULS Algarve health authority.
The Ministry of Health denies reversing surgery rules but will form a working group to redefine minor surgeries following concerns over the SINACC digital system's impact on waiting lists.
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 Portuguese Ministry of Health is classifying online prescription renewals as remote consultations, incurring a 30-euro cost per request, a practice justified by the ACSS as a necessary clinical assessment.
Nuno Castro Marques argues that the European Health Data Space must avoid creating redundant infrastructure while addressing the transition from analogue bureaucracy to digital healthcare in Portugal.
Patients with severe heart disease face critical delays in accessing percutaneous valve replacement (TAVI), leading to preventable mortality and disability for those ineligible for traditional surgery.
The Northern Patient Emergency Guidance Centre (CODU) experienced a two-hour IT system failure, forcing staff to record emergency incidents on paper and causing significant disruptions to dispatch operations.
A serious and technically supported public discussion is essential regarding the future training of professionals who provide specialised pre-hospital emergency medical care.
CUF CEO Rui Diniz announced that the healthcare group has successfully integrated over 20 artificial intelligence applications, significantly enhancing clinical operations and service delivery.
The National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians argues that a recent death in Taipas highlights systemic failures in the INEM emergency response model, specifically regarding resource allocation.
The Garcia de Orta Hospital in Almada faced temporary emergency department closures due to staffing roster issues and an influx of births, while separate concerns arise over the closure of a Family Health Unit in Alverca due to facility maintenance failures.
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.
The Central Administration of the Health System is conducting a phased update of the National User Registry throughout July, affecting approximately 20 million records to streamline the assignment of family doctors.
The NHS is considering prescribing tablets for home physiotherapy, a model already successfully implemented in Beira Baixa that reduced patient waiting times from two years to ten days at a cost of 200 euros per user annually.
The NHS is set to launch a new data centre in Évora by the end of the year, providing real-time redundancy for its existing facility in Porto to ensure service continuity in the event of system failures.
A persistent IT failure within Portugal's National Health Service (SNS) continues to disrupt prescription processing and appointment scheduling across the country.
NHS information systems and services have been progressively restored following a power outage that occurred on Friday, with officials confirming that operations are now nearly fully functional.
The article critiques the systemic misclassification of clinical waiting times as 'social' admissions, while also addressing the shift in focus within USF reforms and the overall exhaustion of healthcare services.
Maria Manuela Faria, outgoing head of ADSE, advocates for a strategic shift towards health prevention and enhanced beneficiary monitoring within the public healthcare subsystem.
Professionals guarantee they are available for greater integration with the National Health Service, but the mechanisms to allow this are lacking. This will be one of the topics debated between May 28 and 30 at the 15th Congress of the National Association of Pharmacies, for which Expresso is a media partner.
Infarmed introduces the new Sinats evaluation system to ensure NHS reimbursement for obesity medication is contingent upon proven clinical and economic value through risk-sharing models.
An editorial by Sónia Sapage exploring the multifaceted frustrations of Portuguese nurses, including salary concerns, professional status, and systemic workplace issues discussed at the 7th Nurses' Congress.
The external paediatric surgery emergency department at Dona Estefânia Hospital will remain closed until Sunday.
A new regional gynaecology and obstetrics emergency service has launched on the Setúbal Peninsula, operating across the Garcia de Orta and São Bernardo hospitals while relying on a mix of permanent and temporary medical staff.
The Garcia de Orta Hospital faces potential overcrowding and staffing shortages as it becomes a regional hub following the permanent closure of the Barreiro obstetrics emergency department.
INEM pre-hospital emergency technicians have launched an indefinite strike targeting administrative tasks to demand the full implementation of operational protocols, while maintaining essential rescue services.
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.
