Portugal's SNS 24 Hotline Nears Record Year with Over Seven Million Calls

Portugal's national health service phone line, SNS 24, has already exceeded four million calls this year and is expected to surpass seven million by year‑end, making it the second‑largest year on record after the pandemic peak of 2021. President of the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health, Luís Goes Pinheiro, noted the line handled 5.8 million calls in 2025 and that call volume has risen about 17 % compared with the same period last year. The service also includes the SNS 24 portal, which receives roughly five million visits annually, and a mobile app with more than 14 million downloads. Since the introduction of the "Call First, Save Lives" programme and expanded teleconsultations that have delivered over 130 000 remote appointments, more than half of callers are redirected to primary care, self‑care or telehealth.

The growth reflects greater public awareness of SNS 24 resources and the ongoing effort to relieve pressure on emergency departments.