5 January 2026 – 11 January 2026
Flu surge strains hospitals as housing, taxes and election fight dominate headlines
A sharp flu wave worsened A&E waits and triggered leadership resignations at Amadora-Sintra, while a close look at INEM highlighted how emergency response works under pressure. Consumer safety also hit the agenda with ASAE withdrawing specific Nestlé infant-formula batches. Politically, a housing package moved ahead amid warnings fixes will take time, new IRS withholding tables promise modest monthly savings, and the presidential race sharpened after a fiery debate and André Ventura’s pledge to block a socialist candidate.
Dermatology unit judged unsafe with no relocation date
Update: New reporting puts more than 420 patients waiting for an initial assessment in hospital emergency departments today, slightly lower than earlier figures of 440–470 published in our previous update; numbers vary by hospital and by outlet. The persistent delays are being reported alongside a broader flu surge and strained emergency services, keeping pressure on admissions and ambulance handovers. For expats, expect longer waits for non-urgent A&E care and consider contacting your family doctor or using scheduled appointments where possible.
Update: New outlet figures give local detail — a national average urgent-patient wait of about 3 hours 16 minutes, with much longer waits at some hospitals (Amadora‑Sintra reported ~11 hours; Santa Maria ~6 hours). Sources vary on the exact totals and some hospitals report better performance; overall coverage emphasises regional differences and continued pressure on admissions and ambulance handovers. Practical takeaway for expats: plan non-urgent care in advance and check local hospital performance if choosing a referral or appointment.
Update: New analysis highlights structural problems beyond seasonal pressure: successive hospital mergers have created large Local Health Units (Unidades Locais de Saúde), some with budgets reported above €1bn, but observers say management capacity has not kept pace and individual hospitals have lost identity. The reporting links those governance issues to dysfunctions such as trolleying and delayed ambulance handovers in the National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). For expats this reinforces earlier practical advice — expect variability between hospitals, consider non-emergency options and register with a family doctor where possible.
Update: RTP reports hospitals are now struggling to admit a rising number of patients with respiratory problems, adding pressure to A&E triage and inpatient beds at a time of high seasonal demand. This increase is being cited by hospital sources as a driver of current delays.
Update: Admiral Carlos Gouveia e Melo has publicly called for changes to leadership in the health sector, accusing the State of failing to meet deadlines and urging new appointments to improve management and accountability. His criticism adds a political voice to coverage that links structural governance issues with current operational stresses in emergency departments.
Update: Reporting in Público and CNN Portugal says the dermatology service at Hospital Egas Moniz, part of the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit (Unidade Local de Saúde de Lisboa Ocidental), was judged in October 2024 to lack conditions of “safety, health and hygiene” and still has no set date for relocation; authorities had recommended relocation but no timetable has been published. The situation may disrupt specialist outpatient dermatology care in Lisbon while a resolution is sought.
Staffing and shift schedules in the SNS combine permanent doctors, residents and temporary cover (locums or overtime) arranged by each hospital's Clinical Directorate ("Direção Clínica"), which plans rotas to cover on‑call and emergency shifts. Rotas are subject to national labour rules, collective agreements and local shortages, so hospitals may use voluntary shift swaps, incentives or external contractors when regular staff are unavailable.
An Unidade Local de Saúde de Lisboa Ocidental (Lisbon Western Local Health Unit) is a public regional health organisation that plans and delivers NHS services in western Lisbon, coordinating hospitals, primary-care centres, emergency care and specialised outpatient clinics as part of Portugal's National Health Service (Serviço Nacional de Saúde or SNS). It matters now because this unit is the local authority handling recent decisions around the relocation of dermatology services at Egas Moniz, so those relying on public healthcare should check its notices for appointment changes and new locations.
An intensive care unit (Portuguese: unidade de cuidados intensivos) is a specialised hospital ward that provides close monitoring and life-sustaining treatment for critically ill patients using advanced equipment and highly trained staff. ICU capacity is frequently mentioned because it signals how many severe patients a health system can care for — when ICUs are full, hospitals may delay surgeries, limit admissions or transfer patients, so expats should check insurance and hospital policies for critical-care coverage and visitation rules.
Amadora‑Sintra refers to the public hospital serving the adjoining municipalities of Amadora and Sintra in the Lisbon metropolitan area—commonly called Hospital Amadora‑Sintra, especially its emergency department (serviço de urgência). It is a major suburban emergency and inpatient centre that often runs at high capacity, so safety incidents or staffing problems there can quickly affect waiting times and access to urgent care for expats living in west/northwest Lisbon.
Local Health Units (Unidade Local de Saúde) are organisational bodies within Portugal's National Health Service that group hospitals and associated primary-care services under a single management and budget; some now oversee operations with budgets exceeding €1 billion. Successive mergers into these units can blur hospital identities and, as reported, create gaps in management capacity — which may affect service coordination, waiting times and how patients register or access specialised care. For expats this matters because it can change which hospital or family doctor you are directed to, how referrals work, and where to send complaints or requests about continuity of care.
Carlos Gouveia e Melo is a retired Portuguese Navy admiral who became a national public figure when he was appointed at the end of 2020 to lead Portugal’s COVID-19 vaccination task force. He oversaw the vaccine rollout through 2021, gaining a reputation for clear communication and logistical focus; his work directly affected vaccine access for residents and foreigners living in Portugal.
RTP is Portugal’s public broadcaster, Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (Rádio e Televisão de Portugal), which runs national TV, radio channels and online news services and has existed since the 1950s. Its debate mattered because it was the only program bringing all candidates together on a single, widely watched public platform, shaping voter perceptions and media coverage ahead of the vote.
Inside INEM: how Portugal handles emergencies
Update: A CNN feature gives an inside look at the National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM), showing call handling and front-line response procedures. Combined with earlier reporting that a planned ambulance purchase was delayed, the coverage highlights operational pressures and procurement shortfalls that can affect response times. For expats, the pieces explain how emergency calls are triaged and why response capacity can vary regionally.
The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica), known as INEM, coordinates Portugal’s pre-hospital emergency care, ambulance dispatch and medical response to 112 calls. It matters to expats because INEM is responsible for ambulance response times and on-scene care — incidents like the reported three-hour wait in Seixal can trigger investigations, affect public confidence and influence how quickly you can expect help in an emergency.
ASAE withdraws specific Nestlé infant‑formula batches
The Food and Economic Safety Authority (Food and Economic Safety Authority (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica)) has overseen the market withdrawal of specific NAN and Alfamino Júnior batches after detecting the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, in a raw material. Nestlé had already begun removing lots and ASAE emphasises the measure is precautionary; no illnesses have been reported so far. Parents and carers in Portugal should check batch numbers, follow retailer or manufacturer instructions, and watch ASAE notices for return/disposal guidance.
The Food and Economic Safety Authority (Autoridade de Segurança Alimentar e Económica) — commonly called ASAE — is Portugal’s national inspectorate that enforces food safety, consumer protection and economic crime prevention; it inspects businesses, orders product withdrawals and can issue fines. For expats, ASAE is the body that publishes official recall notices (like today’s infant formula withdrawal), coordinates with EU alert systems and tells you whether to stop using, return or report a specific batch.
Cereulide is an emetic toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus; it is heat- and acid-stable, so it can survive processing and cause rapid-onset vomiting and, in rare cases, more severe illness. Because infants are especially vulnerable, detection of cereulide in formula typically triggers recalls — if your product is affected, stop using it, keep the packaging for batch information and contact a pediatrician if your baby shows vomiting, fever or signs of dehydration.
André Ventura says he will do everything to prevent a socialist becoming President of the Republic
Chega leader André Ventura renewed his challenge to the PSD and its leader Luís Montenegro to declare whether they would back him or the Socialist candidate António José Seguro in a hypothetical presidential runoff. Ventura vowed that if he failed to reach the second round he would do “everything” to stop a Socialist from becoming President, framing the contest as a choice over what idea of the Republic should be represented in Belém and warning against a President who would, in his view, threaten the economy and individual freedoms. The statement increases pressure on the centre‑right to clarify alliances and highlights how the presidential race is being used to test party loyalties and shape broader political narratives ahead of national contests.
Inside the heart of INEM: this is how medical emergencies are handled
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.
Housing package approved in principle
Update: the Assembly approved the government's housing package in principle (aprovado na generalidade), confirming the cross‑party momentum reported earlier — parties such as the PSD supported it while others abstained or remain cautious. This procedural approval moves the bill to later stages but does not finalise measures; implementation details and timelines remain uncertain. Practical note for expats: key measures may still change during later votes, so do not expect immediate relief on rents or housing availability.
The INE is Portugal's National Statistics Institute (Instituto Nacional de Estatística), and its housing price index measures changes in residential property prices used by policymakers, lenders and markets. That index—published regularly with monthly and quarterly releases for different housing statistics—helps legislators assess price trends and justify measures when prices are rising steadily.
Government warns housing fixes take time
Update to existing coverage: the government acknowledged that the housing crisis “cannot be solved overnight,” adding to earlier remarks by the Prime Minister that price moderation is inevitable. That government line comes as MPs prepare to debate a housing package aimed at cooling prices; ministers say measures are necessary but will take time to affect supply and rents. The comment tempers expectations for immediate relief even as Eurostat data show rapid price growth.
Polling reshuffle: Seguro returns to lead
A daily tracking poll aggregated over 7–9 January shows 'Seguro' returning to first place while Cotrim de Figueiredo moves into a joint lead position and André Ventura slips to third; pollsters describe a technical five‑way tie. The sample (about 600 aggregated interviews) used quotas by gender, age and geography, and the results increase the likelihood of a second round. Expats following the election should watch shifting dynamics that could affect the presidential runoff and turnout.
João Cotrim de Figueiredo is a liberal politician and former leader of Liberal Initiative (Iniciativa Liberal), serving as party leader roughly from 2019 to 2023 and representing pro‑market positions in parliament. As a presidential candidate he appeals to centrist and economically liberal voters and is known for active public campaigning and a business-oriented background.
The second round (segunda volta) is a runoff held if no candidate obtains more than 50% of votes in the first round; the top two candidates then compete head‑to‑head. For expats following elections, the second round is usually decisive because broader coalitions form and turnout and endorsements can change the outcome.
Doctor shortage closes Beja obstetrics emergency
The obstetrics and gynaecology emergency department at Beja Hospital has been closed due to a lack of doctors, local authorities announced. The shutdown highlights ongoing staffing pressures in regional hospitals and may force patients in the area to seek care elsewhere.