Seixal reports 45,000 residents without a family doctor

Approximately 45,000 residents in Seixal, Portugal, currently lack a family doctor, according to José Lourenço, president of the Seixal Health Users Commission. When combined with Almada, the total number of patients without a family physician reaches roughly 60,000.

Lourenço warned of increasing pressure from the private sector on the National Health Service (SNS) and expressed concerns regarding the privatization of healthcare. However, he noted positive developments, stating that 10 recently opened medical positions at the Almada-Seixal Local Health Unit (ULS) have been filled. This influx of professionals is expected to reduce the number of unassigned patients to fewer than 20,000 in the near future.

Despite this progress, population growth may increase the number of patients without doctors by 6,000 to 7,000 over the next few years. Paulo Silva, president of the Seixal Municipality, highlighted the reinforcement of primary care through new units in Foros de Amora and Paio Pires, which are expected to serve 28,000 and 14,000 users, respectively.