The National Health Service forecasts that the percentage of Portuguese people with a family doctor will remain stagnant at 85% until 2028, despite efforts to reinforce professionals in the public health system. This forecast comes in the context of the Government's plans for the sector.
The executive sets as a target the increase in the number of surgeries performed, going from approximately 799,000 interventions planned for 2026 to nearly 832,000 in 2028. This growth represents a significant increase in the SNS surgical capacity.
Regarding hospital emergencies, the goal is to reduce attendances from 4.5 million to 4.2 million over the same two-year period. This decrease aims to decongest emergency services and prioritize other healthcare channels.
The targets were presented by the Ministry of Health as part of the SNS improvement strategy, although the stagnation in access to family doctors continues to represent a significant challenge for the Portuguese health system.
