Healthcare
Portugal plans major shake-up of health service
The government is drafting a reform to merge several health bodies, including the SNS Executive Directorate and the ACSS, and to combine the DGS with the National Institute of Health Dr Ricardo Jorge to create a new national public health agency. These changes are intended to streamline administrative processes, such as doctor recruitment and hospital management, though the specific operational details and timeline for implementation have not yet been finalised.
Why it mattersWhile this is a significant administrative restructuring of the public health service, it is currently a plan rather than an active change, so patients should not expect immediate shifts in their access to care or existing entitlements.
