Portugal's National Health Service commemorated 47 years of existence on September 15, 2024, having been created in 1979. This date marks one of Portugal's most significant social achievements in the 20th century.
Since its creation, the SNS has profoundly transformed Portuguese citizens' access to healthcare and accompanied an unprecedented transformation in the country's main indicators, becoming the main pillar of the Portuguese health system.
Forty-seven years later, however, the SNS faces significant challenges that threaten its sustainability. Among the main identified problems are the aging of the Portuguese population and the lack of health professionals in the system.
The article suggests that, although the SNS continues to be a fundamental achievement, it is necessary to address these challenges to ensure that the service continues to meet the needs of citizens in the coming decades.
