Portugal's National Health Service hires 273 family doctors in latest recruitment

Portugal's National Health Service (SNS) completed its latest recruitment round for family physicians, offering 711 specialist positions. Of these, 273 doctors were placed, a rise of 42 over the previous year, allowing an additional 400,000 patients to be assigned a family doctor.

The Medical Association warned that the result does not solve the systemic shortage: more than 1.6 million Portuguese still lack a family doctor, with the greatest deficits in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo. Overall vacancy fill‑rate fell to 38%, and only about 25% of the 446 slots in the Lisbon region were filled. Some local health units performed better, such as Almada‑Seixal (three new doctors) and Estuário do Tejo (ten new doctors). The Association called for policies that improve recruitment, retention, and working conditions for family physicians.