A new regulation published on 28 October allows specialist nurses in maternal and obstetric health to monitor low-risk pregnancies within primary health care starting Thursday 29 October. The project enables nurses to conduct prenatal assessments, order diagnostic exams, and manage screenings, while integrating with hospital obstetrics services to ensure continuity of care if a patient's risk profile changes.
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A newly published normative dispatch in the Diário da República allows specialist maternal and obstetric nurses in primary healthcare units to oversee low-risk pregnancies from the first visit. Nurses can request diagnostic exams, screenings, vaccinations, supplements, and pregnancy certificates, working alongside family doctors and hospital obstetrics services. The model will be evaluated after 12 months, with the Order of Nurses setting up a monitoring committee to oversee its rollout.
Over-the-counter nasal decongestants can cause habituation and a rebound effect within three to five days of use. ENT specialist Bernardo Carvalho Araújo advises that dependency occurs when the nose remains congested even when the spray is not being used, suggesting patients should monitor their usage duration closely.
The Generic Medicine Users Association (UMG) has asked the Government to consider issuing compulsory licenses—a legal mechanism to bypass patents—to allow the production or marketing of more affordable obesity drugs. The association argues that the current 15% co-payment for these medications is insufficient to ensure patient access and threatens the sustainability of the National Health Service (SNS).