Portugal healthcare complaints rise, driven by private sector

Complaints regarding healthcare services in Portugal rose by 23% during the first nine months of 2026, reaching a total of 4,700 grievances. According to the ‘Barómetro O Estado da Saúde em Portugal’ by Consumers Trust Labs, the private sector accounted for 76% of these complaints, marking a 30% increase compared to the previous year. While private hospital complaints saw a slight decrease, grievances related to health and wellness products surged by 61%.

In the private sector, clinical care remains the primary cause for complaints (32.55%), followed by financial and billing issues (23.26%) and access or deadline problems (23.06%). Major private entities concentrated the majority of complaints, with CUF (35.42%), Lusíadas Saúde (29.51%), Hospital da Luz (18.98%), and Trofa Saúde (13.08%) together representing nearly 97% of the subcategory.

Simultaneously, challenges persist within the National Health Service (SNS). Reports indicate that Local Health Units (ULS) have struggled to meet business plan objectives, with increased spending failing to improve patient access. Issues regarding the integration of primary and hospital care remain, specifically concerning the delayed flow of clinical information and diagnostic data between sectors, leading to duplicated exams and management difficulties.