Portugal establishes new medical assessment centers for licenses

Portugal is implementing a new model for medical and psychological evaluations through the creation of Medical and Psychological Assessment Centers (CAMP). Managed by Local Health Units (ULS), these centers aim to centralize and specialize the process of issuing certificates required for various purposes, such as driver's license renewals, hunting licenses, firearm permits, and nautical activities.

The initiative is designed to relieve Primary Health Care centers of administrative tasks by concentrating medical, psychotechnical, and technical acts within these dedicated structures. Each CAMP will require a team of doctors, psychologists, and diagnostic technicians.

The establishment of these centers is subject to a feasibility study submitted to the executive director of the National Health Service (SNS). While decision-making rests with individual ULS, a single center may serve multiple units to optimize resources or due to geographic proximity. Specific costs for these services have not yet been disclosed.