Portugal DGS reports 3,658 patient safety incidents in 2025

Data released by Portugal’s Directorate-General for Health (DGS) reveals that 3,658 patient safety incidents were reported through the national ‘Notifica’ system in 2025. The majority of these reports, 3,421, were submitted by healthcare professionals, while 237 were reported by citizens.

Patient accidents, specifically falls and pressure ulcers (bedsores), were the most frequently reported categories for both professionals (37%) and citizens (24%). Other notable categories include incidents related to behavior and issues involving infrastructure or facilities.

Carla Pereira, head of the DGS Planning and Quality Improvement Division, noted that while reporting has increased significantly since 2022, the numbers have stabilized around 3,500 annual notifications. She emphasized that reporting is essential for identifying unknown risks and vulnerabilities in healthcare delivery. The DGS clarified that these figures represent reported incidents and do not necessarily reflect the total number of occurrences within the health system.

Carlos Cortes, president of the Medical Association, called for structural improvements to enhance patient safety, specifically highlighting the urgent need for an integrated and interoperable clinical process to provide doctors with seamless access to updated patient information and medication records.