"We have had retention rates in excess of 70%. I think that's what's acceptable today, there are alternatives that didn't exist when I was a young doctor. The world was less flat than it is today," said Manuel Pizarro.

The government thus reacted to a question about the lack of doctors and the willingness shown by many to leave the SNS, having admitted that there is a problem and assured that the Government is working on the resolution.

"We have a situation that is not symmetrical throughout the country. We are working on solving the problem in each of the regions," said Manuel Pizarro.

The health minister said that "from a structural point of view, the problem requires the training of more doctors," a "time-consuming process that began this year," he added.

"But there must be contingency measures to ensure access to care," he admitted.

Challenged to say how foreign doctors are captivated, Pizarro preferred to analyse the current panorama.

"We have hundreds of foreign doctors in the SNS. There are hundreds of Spaniards and dozens of other geographies," he said.

The ruler spoke to journalists in Matosinhos (Porto district) where today he visited the facilities of the Family Health Unit (USF) Godinho de Faria, in São Mamede de Infesta.

The Matosinhos Local Health Unit (ULSM), operating since February 01, has moved directly from the Personalized Health Care Unit (UCSP) to USF model B, "an innovative path in primary health care", according to information sent to lusa agency.

In this USF, it is given response to about 17 users of the parishes of São Mamede de Infesta and Leça do Balio. There are eight family health teams (doctor, nurse and clinical secretary).

The construction of the USF Progresso aims to respond in health care of proximity to the population living in the Union of the Parishes of Perafita, Lavra and Santa Cruz do Bispo.

The project was announced about a year ago and the investment is over 1.7 million euros.

"The construction of this new FUS responds to the conditions manifestly insufficient for existing health needs," said Taveira Gomes, president of ulsm's board of directors, as cited in a statement.

The new unit is designed to respond to 15,000 users with eight physicians, eight nurses and seven clinical secretaries.