“It’s not just about (…) having a consultation or treatment, but ensuring that the person then has the ability to take a prescription (…) and manage it in their daily life,” stated Nuno Basílio, the clinical director for primary healthcare at the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit, to journalists during a visit by the Health Minister, Ana Paula Martins, to the facility.
Since July 2024, the “Health for All” project has enabled homeless individuals, who may lack a citizen card or face other barriers to healthcare, to receive regular medical follow-ups. Consultations are held every Wednesday.
The project, operating at the Alcântara Health Unit in Lisbon, is supported by at least 10 organizations aiding vulnerable groups.
“We realized that it’s necessary to go beyond the simple rhetoric of ‘let’s assign a family doctor to everyone’ (…) but also to consider social determinants and the other barriers these populations face,” added the clinical director.
The Health Minister remarked that the “extraordinary project” allows homeless individuals access to preventive and curative care, which also aids in their social integration.
“Projects like this need to be replicated across the country, particularly in areas like Lisbon and the Tagus Valley,” the minister emphasized, highlighting that the National Health Service (SNS) should reach the most vulnerable people, who may be unaware of how the healthcare system works or lack a family doctor.
According to the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit, homeless individuals face a mortality risk two to five times higher than the general population, along with a higher prevalence of addictions, infectious diseases, coronary disease (such as heart attacks), and mental disorders.
At the end of last year, 3,122 homeless individuals were counted in Lisbon, according to this year’s report from the Homeless Planning and Intervention Nucleus (NPISA).
