Portugal rolls out phased waiting‑list system for surgeries, starting with eye operations

Portugal's health ministry announced a new waiting‑list management programme, SINACC, during a parliamentary hearing. Minister Ana Paula Martins said the system will first cover surgical waiting lists, with ophthalmology (cataract surgery) as the initial focus, before expanding to outpatient consultation lists by late 2026 or early 2027 and later to diagnostic services.

The model was developed by a Ministry‑appointed group led by Dr. Joana Mourão and will be overseen by the Executive Direction of the National Health Service (SNS). It will use an AI‑driven platform to alert hospital managers about backlog situations and relies on extra surgical production outside normal hours to reduce wait times. At the end of July 2025, about 37,475 patients were on the cataract surgery waiting list, 92% within the guaranteed response time, though some had waited over three years, prompting them to seek private care.

The reform aims to improve transparency, efficiency and patient outcomes across the Portuguese health system.