There are around 882 thousand foreigners residing in Portugal registered in health centers, according to Público this Saturday. In total, the country has 1.6 million foreign residents, which means that only half are enrolled in primary health care.
According to the newspaper, which cites data from the Central Administration of the Unified Health System, of the approximately 882 thousand foreigners registered in primary health care, 52,886 did not complete all the data considered mandatory. Now, financial responsibility is only assumed by the State when there is an updated registration in the SNS, emphasises Público.
This mandatory update is worrying the collective “Humans Before Borders”, which has already asked the Government not to take “any administrative decision that results in discrimination or unjustified restriction on the right to health”.
There are no doctors available to list in Lagos. Been total chaos in state healthcare the 8 years we’ve been living here.
By Matty from Algarve on 22 Apr 2025, 09:36
My local health centre is a Unidade de Saúde Familiar and they have an indefinite waiting list: they simply tell you to call SNS24 until such time as they'll take you on. Exactly how are you supposed to register with a health centre that won't have you?
By Jon Press from Porto on 22 Apr 2025, 20:12
There is such a depressing lack of doctors in Portugal. One of the reasons I immigrated here was the "excellent healthcare." It is only good healthcare if you can get in to see a doctor in a timely manner. Furthermore, when I have gone in I have never once seen the same doctor twice. Even with private insurance, private healthcare is out of reach for many people.
By Edie N Blakley from Lisbon on 23 Apr 2025, 15:21