The National Health Service concluded the classification of the National User Registry, with 10.77 million registered users and a family doctor coverage rate of 87%, representing 9,234,694 users. The Central Administration of the Health System announced that 1,364,561 users were still awaiting assignment of a family doctor. This work, developed in partnership with the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health, represents a structural reform planned since 2017 that allows for more efficient management of available resources.
At the regional level, the northern region had the highest coverage rate at 98%, followed by Centro at 95%, Alentejo at 83%, Algarve at 80%, and Lisboa e Vale do Tejo with only 74%, representing 1,009,185 registered users without a family doctor. The 169,844 registered users without entitlement to a family doctor correspond to citizens without residency status, users who have not contacted the SNS in the last five years, or those who have expressed the option not to have this service.
Starting August 31, two new indicators will be available on the SNS Transparency Portal, updated monthly, on those registered in the RNU and their respective eligibility for family doctor assignment. The ACSS warns that it is essential that citizens keep their data updated in the RNU to ensure access to SNS medication and test reimbursements, simply by going to any health center or hospital to update missing information.
