Portugal’s government is set to expand agreements with private family doctors by the end of the year to provide care for patients who currently lack coverage under the National Health Service (SNS), Health Minister Ana Paula Martins announced on Tuesday in parliament.
The initiative will run alongside the launch of private-run family health centres (USF-C). However, Martins did not disclose the number of agreements or the locations of the new units.
The need for more family doctor coverage is urgent. According to the latest data, 1.52 million people in Portugal did not have an assigned family doctor at the end of August, an increase of over 8,000 in just one month. The shortfall is largely driven by the rising number of registered patients, including an influx of immigrants. Lisbon and Vale do Tejo remain the regions most affected.
Despite the challenges, coverage is improving. According to the minister, 85.7% of patients now have a family doctor, reversing a four-year decline. Between April 2024 and August 2025, 326,000 more patients gained access, while the resident foreign population nearly quadrupled over the past seven years, from 405,000 in 2017 to over 944,000 in 2024.
Martins also clarified the government’s approach to obstetric care mobility. Moves of teams from Barreiro Hospital to Garcia de Orta Hospital in Almada will be handled through a formal decree rather than a simple administrative order, ensuring proper negotiation with unions and avoiding forced transfers.
The government believes that these measures will strengthen primary care, maintain patient access, and respond to demographic pressures without bypassing labour agreements.
