Researchers are studying the effectiveness of using POCUS (point-of-care ultrasound) heart exams in primary care settings to detect structural heart disease early. A new phase of the study involves 400 patients across specific Family Health Units (USF) in Porto, Lisbon, Amadora, and Sintra to test whether this diagnostic tool should be integrated into routine family medicine practice.
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New data from INE shows that 57.1% of adults in Portugal are overweight or obese, amounting to 5.5 million people. Nutrition experts argue that obesity must be treated as a systemic social and economic issue rather than just a personal behavioral failure, noting that food access and literacy are heavily influenced by current economic pressures.
Data from the Directorate-General for Health (DGS) shows 18,239 voluntary pregnancy terminations (IVG) by women's choice in 2025, with 25 cases involving girls aged 13 and 14. While the total number of abortions among Portuguese women is decreasing, foreign nationals accounted for 44% of total IVG procedures in 2025, with the highest numbers coming from Angolan, Brazilian, Cape Verdean, São Toméan, and Guinean citizens.
The new Mafra Oeste Health Centre opened on Tuesday, October 3, centralizing care for approximately 10,000 patients. The facility replaces the existing health centres in Enxara do Bispo and Azueira, which have now closed their doors.