More than 250,000 patients are expected to be covered by new privately managed health centres set to open in regions with the lowest availability of family doctors, the Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS) revealed on Sunday.
The administrative body told journalists that tenders have already been launched by the Local Health Units (ULS) of Leiria, the Algarve, and the Oeste region for the creation of in total five Model C Family Health Units (USF-C), with the deadline for the submission of bids currently under way.
In addition to the two new Family Health Units planned for Silves and Lagos, the Algarve’s health body is also preparing to launch a further tender for the creation of a privately managed family health unit to serve municipalities in Albufeira, Loulé, and Portimão. The ACSS estimates that the remaining tenders will be launched by the end of February, also covering the ULS of Amadora/Sintra, Western Lisbon, Loures-Odivelas, Santa Maria, São José, and the Tagus Estuary.
In practical terms, the new Family Health Units are expected to provide primary healthcare to around 252,000 patients, “contributing to improved coverage in territories with a higher number of citizens without a family doctor”, the ACSS said.
This news comes after the Government approved a decree-law in September 2024 allowing for the creation of split health centres managed by the private and public sectors, as well as by local authorities, with the aim of reducing the number of people without an assigned family doctor.
According to the National Health Service (SNS) transparency portal, in November 2025 there were 1,557,148 people in mainland Portugal without an assigned family doctor.
Source: LUSA
