According to damning figures in a report about the Regional Health Administration of the Algarve there are 139,116 people in the region without a family doctor, 31% of the total population of the Algarve.
The most serious area lacking GP's is Lagos where 72% have no doctor.
The Barlavento area covering Aljezur, Lagoa, Lagos, Monchique, Portimão, Silves and Vila do Bispo has only 51% cover for its 158,875 residents with area cover varying dramatically.
According to results from the Court of Auditors the number of users without a family doctor has increased since 2006, the year the first Family Health Units were in operation.
According to the Auditors, the goal of the reform in primary health care by establishing the Family Health Unit system was meant to assign a family doctor to every registered user, but it has failed to with the lack of cover increasing by 24% since 2006.
The figures are from December 2013 but there has been no turnaround in the 10 weeks since the year end, despite assurances from health authorities, notably the Central Algarve Hospital's management under Dr Pedro Nunes, that all is well and trhere are enough doctors, drugs and appointments for everyone.
