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General information

Latest international publications

Statistical data used

Key facts and figures

Additional national statistics

Office(s) in charge of data collection

Overview of main stakeholders

Overview of policies

Specific sources

Disclaimer

General information

COUNTRY: Portugal
KNOWLEDGE BROKER: Gilles Dussault, Global Health and Tropical Medicine,  Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical , Universidade NOVA de Lisboa

SEPEN thanks the knowledge brokers for their contribution in checking and completing the country-information. SEPEN is accountable for the content of the country profiles.

Latest international publications

Statistical data used

Type of information Source Year Remarks
Table 1: Health workforce stock and replacement OECD 2018 Age characteristics of the physician and nursing stock are not reported.
Figure 1: Mobility level in absolute numbers OECD 2018 Only immigration data for OECD countries are available. The data produced are therefore incomplete. Not all OECD-countries register the country of origin of incoming health professionals and some do not register incoming health professionals at all. Emigration data are based on immigration numbers in other OECD-countries, as emigration as such is not registered nor reported.
Figure 2a: Number of practicing physicians per 1000 inhabitants Eurostat 2018 Figure 2a presents regional distribution of physicians. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020.
Figure 2b: Number of practicing nurses and midwives per 1000 inhabitants  Eurostat 2016 Figure 2b presents regional distrubution of nursing and midwifery. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020.

Key facts and figures

OECD and Eurostat statistics

Statistic Number Data Year
Total population 10 276 617 2019
Life expectancy at birth 81,5 2018

Source: Eurostat

  Licensed to practice Practising Professionally active  
Statistic Number Per 1000 inhabitants Number Per 1000 inhabitants Number Per 1000 inhabitants Data year
Physicians 52 966 5,15 Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported 2018
> Generalist Medical Practitioner Not reported Not reported 27 664 2,69 Not reported Not reported 2018
> Specialist Medical Practitioner Not reported Not reported 26 814 2,61 Not reported Not reported 2018
Nurses Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported 70 754 6,88 2018
Midwives Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported 2 896 0,28 2018
Dentists 10 896 1,06 Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported 2018
Pharmacists 16 658 1,62 9 353 0,91 13 478 1,31 2018
Physiotherapists Not reported Not reported 1 456 0,14 Not reported Not reported 2018

Source: OECD

 

Additional national statistics

Not reported

Office(s) in charge of data collection

Name Role Website
 ACSS Responsible for the coordination and consolidation of information and statistics on human resources in the health sector   http://www.acss.min-saude.pt/
Ordem dos Medicos (Medical Chamber) Responsible for the registration of doctors https://ordemdosmedicos.pt/
Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Nursing Association) Responsible for the registration of nurses https://www.ordemenfermeiros.pt/

Overview of main stakeholders

Name Role Website
Ministry of Health Regulatory body, defining and conducting national health policy, ensuring the sustainable application, use and evaluation of resources. https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc22
Servico Nacional de Saude, (SNS) – National Health Service Established by the Portuguese Constitution, the National Health Service of Portugal is a universal system, responsible for the protection of public health. The system is managed by the Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS). https://www.sns.gov.pt/

Public representatives

Name Role Website
Ordem dos Medicos (Portuguese Medical Association) A professional association and public entity, serving as the regulatory and licensing body for medical practitioners in Portugal. The association is responsible for licensing to practice and maintains an autonomous disciplinary regime. https://ordemdosmedicos.pt/

Health profession representatives

Name Role Website
Ordem dos Medicos (Medical Chamber) Responsible for the registration of doctors. https://ordemdosmedicos.pt/
Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Nursing Association) Responsible for the registration of nurses. https://www.ordemenfermeiros.pt/

Academic representatives

Not reported

Overview of policies

Manage shortages and maldistribution of skills

Original name Monitorização do SNS – Análise Mensal do Balanço Social – Trabalhadores por Grupo Profissional 
Name in English Monitoring of the national health system/Monthly Social Balance Sheet Analysis – workers by professional groups 
Short description Data warehouse of human resource information from the NHS made available as a result of the transparency portal concept.
Publication date N/A
Link to full text https://www.sns.gov.pt/monitorizacao-do-sns/analise-mensal-do-balanco-social/

 

Original name Decreto-Lei n.º 28/2008 de 22 de Fevereiro  
Name in English Decree-Law No 28/2008 of February 22
Short description Establishes the regime for the creation, structuring and operation of health centre groupings of the National Health Service 
Publication date 22 February 2008
Link to full text https://dre.pt/application/file/a/247597

Improving performance

Original name Plano Nacional de Saúde 2012-2016
Name in English National Health Plan 2012-2016
Short description Extended to 2020, the National Health Plan of Portugal comprises goals to train, develop and retain the health workforce in the national health service, valuing competency and professional quality.
Publication date 2013 (2012-2016)
Link to full text http://1nj5ms2lli5hdggbe3mm7ms5.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2013/12/vresumo-eng.pdf

Address outflow mobility

Original name Boletim Informativo Recursos Humanos Estrangeiros No Ministério da Saúde – Atualização de dados (2011 – 2015) 
Name in English Informative report foreign human resources at the Ministry of Health – Data update (2011 – 2015)  
Short description The newsletter on foreign human resources at the Ministry of Health (MS) aims to objectively update the data of foreign human resources who work for the Ministry of Health, and considers data from several years up to 2015. 
Publication date 20 September 2016
Link to full text http://www.acss.min-saude.pt//wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Boletim_RH_Estrangeiros_SNS_2011-2015-1.pdf

Education, enrolment and recruitment

Original name Decree-Law n.º 86/2015  
Name in English Regulation of Medical Internship
Short description Established by the Medical Internship Regulation to regulate and coordinate medical internship.
Publication date 21 May 2015
Link to full text https://dre.pt/web/guest/pesquisa/-/search/67250272/details/maximized

 

Original name Decree Law n. 40/2007
Name in Englsih Regulation for special entrance tests for admission to medical degree programmes
Short description Regulating admissions to medical training programmes in Portugal.
Publication date 20 February 2007
Link to full text https://dre.pt/pesquisa/-/search/517845/details/maximized

Education staff & infrastructure

Not reported

Continuous professional development (CPD)

Not reported

Regulation of private sector

Not reported

Working conditions

Not reported

Others

Not reported

Specific sources

List of sources specific to this country:

National Health Plan 2012-2016 (2013). http://1nj5ms2lli5hdggbe3mm7ms5.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2013/12/vresumo-eng.pdf 

OECD. (2017). Caring for Quality in Health Lessons Learnt from 15 Reviews of Health Care Quality. https://www.oecd.org/health/caring-for-quality-in-health-9789264267787-en.htm 

EAHC/2013/Health/07 Study concerning the review and mapping of continuous professional development and lifelong learning for health professionals in the EU. https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/workforce/docs/cpd_mapping_report_en.pdf

 

Last updated: 10 October 2020

Disclaimer

The country fiches are produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in the country sheets are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study.

Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission’s/Executive Agency’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Age characteristics of the physician and nursing stock are not reported. Figure 1: Mobility level in absolute numbers OECD 2018 Only immigration data for OECD countries are available. The data produced are therefore incomplete. Not all OECD-countries register the country of origin of incoming health professionals and some do not register incoming health professionals at all. Emigration data are based on immigration numbers in other OECD-countries, as emigration as such is not registered nor reported. Figure 2a: Number of practicing physicians per 1000 inhabitants Eurostat 2018 Figure 2a presents regional distribution of physicians. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020. Figure 2b: Number of practicing nurses and midwives per 1000 inhabitants  Eurostat 2016 Figure 2b presents regional distrubution of nursing and midwifery. Maps are formatted according to the NUTS classification obtained from Eurostat or recent national data provided by the key country informants. The national average is derived from the OECD/Eurostat databases, and the EU average from the “Health at a Glance: Europe” report published in November 2020.

Key facts and figures

OECD and Eurostat statistics

Statistic Number Data Year
Total population 10 276 617 2019
Life expectancy at birth 81,5 2018

Source: Eurostat

  Licensed to practice Practising Professionally active  
Statistic Number Per 1000 inhabitants Number Per 1000 inhabitants Number Per 1000 inhabitants Data year
Physicians 52 966 5,15 Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported 2018
> Generalist Medical Practitioner Not reported Not reported 27 664 2,69 Not reported Not reported 2018
> Specialist Medical Practitioner Not reported Not reported 26 814 2,61 Not reported Not reported 2018
Nurses Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported 70 754 6,88 2018
Midwives Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported 2 896 0,28 2018
Dentists 10 896 1,06 Not reported Not reported Not reported Not reported 2018
Pharmacists 16 658 1,62 9 353 0,91 13 478 1,31 2018
Physiotherapists Not reported Not reported 1 456 0,14 Not reported Not reported 2018

Source: OECD

 

Additional national statistics

Not reported

Office(s) in charge of data collection

Name Role Website
 ACSS Responsible for the coordination and consolidation of information and statistics on human resources in the health sector   http://www.acss.min-saude.pt/
Ordem dos Medicos (Medical Chamber) Responsible for the registration of doctors https://ordemdosmedicos.pt/
Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Nursing Association) Responsible for the registration of nurses https://www.ordemenfermeiros.pt/

Overview of main stakeholders

Name Role Website
Ministry of Health Regulatory body, defining and conducting national health policy, ensuring the sustainable application, use and evaluation of resources. https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc22
Servico Nacional de Saude, (SNS) – National Health Service Established by the Portuguese Constitution, the National Health Service of Portugal is a universal system, responsible for the protection of public health. The system is managed by the Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS). https://www.sns.gov.pt/

Public representatives

Name Role Website
Ordem dos Medicos (Portuguese Medical Association) A professional association and public entity, serving as the regulatory and licensing body for medical practitioners in Portugal. The association is responsible for licensing to practice and maintains an autonomous disciplinary regime. https://ordemdosmedicos.pt/

Health profession representatives

Name Role Website
Ordem dos Medicos (Medical Chamber) Responsible for the registration of doctors. https://ordemdosmedicos.pt/
Ordem dos Enfermeiros (Nursing Association) Responsible for the registration of nurses. https://www.ordemenfermeiros.pt/

Academic representatives

Not reported

Overview of policies

Manage shortages and maldistribution of skills

Original name Monitorização do SNS – Análise Mensal do Balanço Social – Trabalhadores por Grupo Profissional 
Name in English Monitoring of the national health system/Monthly Social Balance Sheet Analysis – workers by professional groups 
Short description Data warehouse of human resource information from the NHS made available as a result of the transparency portal concept.
Publication date N/A
Link to full text https://www.sns.gov.pt/monitorizacao-do-sns/analise-mensal-do-balanco-social/

 

Original name Decreto-Lei n.º 28/2008 de 22 de Fevereiro  
Name in English Decree-Law No 28/2008 of February 22
Short description Establishes the regime for the creation, structuring and operation of health centre groupings of the National Health Service 
Publication date 22 February 2008
Link to full text https://dre.pt/application/file/a/247597

Improving performance

Original name Plano Nacional de Saúde 2012-2016
Name in English National Health Plan 2012-2016
Short description Extended to 2020, the National Health Plan of Portugal comprises goals to train, develop and retain the health workforce in the national health service, valuing competency and professional quality.
Publication date 2013 (2012-2016)
Link to full text http://1nj5ms2lli5hdggbe3mm7ms5.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2013/12/vresumo-eng.pdf

Address outflow mobility

Original name Boletim Informativo Recursos Humanos Estrangeiros No Ministério da Saúde – Atualização de dados (2011 – 2015) 
Name in English Informative report foreign human resources at the Ministry of Health – Data update (2011 – 2015)  
Short description The newsletter on foreign human resources at the Ministry of Health (MS) aims to objectively update the data of foreign human resources who work for the Ministry of Health, and considers data from several years up to 2015. 
Publication date 20 September 2016
Link to full text http://www.acss.min-saude.pt//wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Boletim_RH_Estrangeiros_SNS_2011-2015-1.pdf

Education, enrolment and recruitment

Original name Decree-Law n.º 86/2015  
Name in English Regulation of Medical Internship
Short description Established by the Medical Internship Regulation to regulate and coordinate medical internship.
Publication date 21 May 2015
Link to full text https://dre.pt/web/guest/pesquisa/-/search/67250272/details/maximized

 

Original name Decree Law n. 40/2007
Name in Englsih Regulation for special entrance tests for admission to medical degree programmes
Short description Regulating admissions to medical training programmes in Portugal.
Publication date 20 February 2007
Link to full text https://dre.pt/pesquisa/-/search/517845/details/maximized

Education staff & infrastructure

Not reported

Continuous professional development (CPD)

Not reported

Regulation of private sector

Not reported

Working conditions

Not reported

Others

Not reported

Specific sources

List of sources specific to this country:

National Health Plan 2012-2016 (2013). http://1nj5ms2lli5hdggbe3mm7ms5.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2013/12/vresumo-eng.pdf 

OECD. (2017). Caring for Quality in Health Lessons Learnt from 15 Reviews of Health Care Quality. https://www.oecd.org/health/caring-for-quality-in-health-9789264267787-en.htm 

EAHC/2013/Health/07 Study concerning the review and mapping of continuous professional development and lifelong learning for health professionals in the EU. https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/workforce/docs/cpd_mapping_report_en.pdf

 

Last updated: 10 October 2020

Disclaimer

The country fiches are produced under the EU Health Programme 2014-2020 under a service contract with the Consumers, Health, Agriculture and Food Executive Agency (Chafea) acting under the mandate from the European Commission. The information and views set out in the country sheets are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the Commission/Executive Agency. The Commission/Executive Agency does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this study.

Neither the Commission/Executive Agency nor any person acting on the Commission’s/Executive Agency’s behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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