Medical professionals in Portugal face burnout and staffing shortages

A scientific review published in Acta Médica Portuguesa indicates that burnout may affect up to 75% of resident doctors, potentially compromising patient safety and care quality. The review, which analyzed studies from 2000 to 2024, found that burnout is particularly prevalent during the first year of residency and in specific specialties, driven largely by organizational conditions.

A 2023 study cited in the review revealed that 84.8% of surveyed residents perform overtime, working an average of 52.8 hours per week, exceeding the European reference of 48 hours. Key stressors include excessive workload (61%), lack of institutional support (46%), and instances of harassment or abuse of power (29%).

Concurrently, the Federation of National Associations of Medical Doctors (FNAM) is contesting a new government decree regarding emergency services. The decree requires internal emergency doctors to support external emergency departments during periods of high pressure. FNAM argues this measure does not increase the number of doctors in the National Health Service (SNS) but merely shifts existing staff, raising legal concerns and potentially leaving already hospitalized patients at risk.