The Portuguese Nurses Union (ASPE) has filed a formal complaint with the health inspectorate, IGAS, regarding 23 recruitment processes held between July and September 2026. The union alleges issues including lack of transparency, failure to negotiate salary positions for experienced nurses, and irregularities in selection criteria and advertising.
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The nurses' union (ASPE) reports ongoing technical issues with the VACINAS 2.0 system, launched in April for the SNS. Reported problems include the incorrect summoning of already vaccinated patients, potential duplicate vaccinations, difficulty verifying eligibility, and the loss or accumulation of registry errors, forcing staff to repeat administrative tasks.
The Northern Doctors' Union (SMN) filed a complaint regarding the USF Terras da Nóbrega unit, currently operating in a basement due to renovation works that have exceeded their original three-week estimate by three months. The union alleges poor hygiene, lack of ventilation, and inadequate waiting areas, while the local health authority (ULSAM) states the works are in their final phase and expects completion by the end of the year. Additionally, the union flagged a lack of overnight and weekend specialist support in gastroenterology, ENT, and urology at Santa Luzia Hospital in Viana do Castelo.
The independent nurses' union SITEU held a strike on Monday, 26 October, at the Santo António Local Health Unit (ULS) in Porto, demanding the completion of performance evaluations for 2023-2025 and the payment of owed salary arrears and retroactive pay. Minimum services were maintained during the stoppage.