Portugal targets medical specialist shortages through residency reforms

Portugal's Minister of Health, Ana Paula Martins, has announced plans to reform medical residency rules to address specialist shortages within the National Health Service (SNS). The government has authorized 2,400 medical residency positions and is negotiating a vacancy map with the Medical Association to ensure training focuses on critical areas such as dermatology, orthopedics, obstetrics, and anesthesiology.

Martins emphasized that increasing vacancies is only part of the solution, noting that the government must also focus on attracting and retaining doctors after they complete their training.

Simultaneously, the Order of Pharmacists is calling for the timely opening of career positions to integrate approximately 100 pharmacists completing their specialized residency in 2027. These professionals, specializing in clinical analysis, hospital pharmacy, and human genetics, represent the first cycle of pharmaceutical residency launched in Portugal in 2023. The Order warned that without clear integration prospects, the SNS risks losing these highly qualified professionals to other opportunities, wasting public investment.