Portugal launches pilot project for specialist nurses to monitor low-risk pregnancies

A new pilot project in Portugal will allow specialist nurses in maternal and obstetric health to manage low-risk pregnancies within primary healthcare settings. Regulated by a recent government decree, the initiative aims to address the increasing shortage of general and family medicine specialists while ensuring timely access to prenatal surveillance.

Under the new rules, these specialist nurses are authorized to apply clinical protocols, request diagnostic exams and screenings, and manage preventive interventions such as vaccinations and supplementation. The model integrates primary care units with hospital gynecology and obstetrics services.

The program emphasizes early intervention, prioritizing an initial assessment by a specialist nurse by nine weeks and six days of gestation if a medical consultation is unavailable. The nurses will perform continuous risk assessments throughout the pregnancy to account for dynamic changes in maternal or fetal health.