Portugal health ministry reports rise in patients without a family doctor

Two years into the tenure of Health Minister Ana Paula Martins, the Portuguese health system has seen the number of citizens without an assigned family doctor increase by 5.1%, adding 80,399 people compared with April 2024. In the same period, the total number of registered users in primary health care grew by 4.2% and those with a family doctor rose by 4%, indicating that the gap is widening despite overall enrollment gains.

The data highlights a growing challenge for the government’s promise to ensure every resident has a family physician, a key pillar of its health policy.