Castro Verde officials demand reinforcement of local healthcare

The Castro Verde Municipal Assembly has unanimously approved a motion demanding the reinforcement of local healthcare services in the municipality. The assembly expressed concern that the application of Decree-Law no. 115/2026 regarding the hiring of task-based doctors by the National Health Service (SNS) could significantly reduce medical access.

According to the motion, the number of residents without a family doctor in the municipality could rise from 1,546 to 5,129. Specific areas, including the parishes of Entradas, Casével, Santa Bárbara de Padrões, and Sete, may lose weekly proximity medical assistance. In São Marcos da Ataboeira, healthcare would depend entirely on a single doctor with a formal link to the Ministry of Health.

The document calls on the government to provide an immediate solution that safeguards the rights of the population and ensures the maintenance of local services. It further advocates for measures to guarantee a family doctor for all users through professional recruitment and the creation of conditions to encourage healthcare workers to settle in the country's interior.