Key takeaways

  • Health Minister Ana Paula Martins says ER, INEM and SNS24 demand is rising
  • She calls the coming days a period of "grande risco" for the health system
  • Hospitals are being asked to keep staff on standby and prepare capacity
  • Public urged to protect themselves to ease pressure on emergency services

Portugal’s Health Minister, Ana Paula Martins, has publicly acknowledged concern over a growing surge in demand for emergency rooms, the INEM ambulance service, and the SNS24 health helpline. She warned that the coming days carry a high level of risk for the national health system and called on hospitals to keep their teams ready to respond.

Ana Paula Martins Calls for Hospital Readiness

The minister said hospitals across the country need to have their teams “em prontidão” — on standby — as pressure builds on urgent care services. This typically signals that the health ministry expects a spike in patients needing emergency treatment, often linked to seasonal illness or extreme weather affecting vulnerable groups.

For residents in Portugal, this kind of official warning usually precedes practical measures such as extra staffing in emergency departments, activation of additional ambulance resources through INEM, and public guidance broadcast via SNS24, the health system’s telephone and online triage line.

Why SNS24 and INEM Matter for Foreign Residents

SNS24 (dial 808 24 24 24) is the first point of contact many people in Portugal use to get medical guidance without going directly to a hospital, helping to decide whether a visit to urgent care is truly necessary. INEM, Portugal’s national medical emergency institute, coordinates ambulances and life-threatening emergency response nationwide.

Foreign residents who may be less familiar with how the Portuguese health system works should note that during periods of high demand, wait times at hospital emergency rooms can lengthen significantly. Using SNS24 first, when the situation is not life-threatening, helps keep emergency capacity available for the most urgent cases.

What the Minister Is Asking of the Public

Martins directly appealed to the population to take steps to protect their own health, reducing unnecessary strain on an already stretched system. While the source material does not specify the exact cause of the surge, such warnings in Portugal are commonly tied to seasonal flu outbreaks, respiratory illness, or cold-weather health risks affecting older residents and people with chronic conditions.

Anyone living in Portugal, particularly retirees or those with elderly family members, should treat this as a signal to stay attentive to health symptoms early, keep basic medication and supplies at home, and know how to reach SNS24 before heading straight to an emergency room.