The public institution implementing the Health Ministry’s directives announced today that despite a reduction in the overall occupancy rate from 86% in 2024 to 80% in 2025, there are numerous positive indicators in this year’s selection process.
Notably, three more doctors will be placed in 2025 (1,854) compared to 2024 (1,851).
“This represents a real increase in training capacity and the number of specialized doctors,” the statement read.
Additional positive signs included 33 specialties achieving 100% occupancy this year and 21 specialties increasing their placements.
“The 2025 results highlight a real reinforcement of professionals, solid stability in most specialties, and concrete progress in several priority areas, contributing to the consolidation of specialized medical training in Portugal,” stated the ACSS.
Conversely, the Order of Doctors views the 20% vacancy rate in the internship selection process as indicative of a “structural crisis” in essential specialties for the National Health Service (SNS).
In its statement, the Order highlighted examples such as family medicine, internal medicine, and intensive care, emphasizing that the recently concluded selection process reveals a worsening of unfilled vacancies in essential public service specialties.
“It is clear that the SNS faces a recruitment crisis in essential specialties, which worsens year by year. The Lisbon and Vale do Tejo and Northern regions are the most affected,” it emphasized.
In light of these indicators, the National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) warned of the SNS’s inability to retain these professionals.
“This confirms a trend we had already identified: the National Health Service continues to lose its ability to attract and retain doctors even at such an early stage as specialty selection, despite the high number of open vacancies,” the president of the syndicate federation told Lusa.
The matter involved a total of 2,331 initial vacancies available for various specialties within SNS units set to receive new doctors, who will begin their specialized training starting January 1, 2026.
There were 2,375 doctors who completed their general training and were eligible to choose a specialty.
