Portugal sees rise in patients without family doctors in 2025

In 2025, 1.56 million people in mainland Portugal were without a family doctor, an increase of 41 000 from the previous year. The majority – about 1.1 million – are concentrated in the Lisbon and Tagus Valley region. The Public Finance Council (CFP) warned that the growth occurs amid an ageing workforce: of the 9 343 doctors registered in general and family medicine at the end of 2024, 45 % were over 65, raising concerns that upcoming retirements could further restrict primary‑care access and push more patients to hospital emergency rooms.

The report also noted that overall primary‑care enrolment rose to 10.7 million, 235 000 more than in 2024, though 24 % remain in Personalised Health Care Units, highlighting persistent regional disparities. Medical consultations fell 0.9 %, with face‑to‑face visits down 4 % while remote consultations grew 3.3 %. Utilisation rates were 0.787 for medical and 0.770 for nursing consultations.