231 of the 389 new family doctors chose a place in the ULS

Of the 389 family doctors who recently completed their specialty training, only 231 chose one of the 585 vacancies made available in the last competition for placement in local health units (ULS).

The percentage of 39% of vacancies occupied in 2025, “although low”, was higher than those recorded in 2023 (32%) and 2024 (28%).

In the first term of 2025, 389 doctors graduated in general and family medicine, with the Ministry of Health approving a total number of vacancies greater than that of new specialists “to accommodate the largest number of doctors available and waiting to be hired, as assistants”, the first level of the career, said the Central Administration of the Health System (ACSS).

585 vacancies were opened, 412 applications were submitted, but only 231 were filled.

“In the specific case of general and family medicine, the opening of more vacancies does not necessarily mean a higher percentage of occupancy rate”, states the ACSS. In the first season of 2024, when 904 vacancies were opened, only 255 were filled.

ACSS data also indicate that in two ULS none of the vacancies were filled, such as Alto Alentejo, where the 12 places put up for competition were left unfilled, and Estuário do Tejo, which had 37 vacancies that were left empty.

Lisbon is the region with the greatest shortage of family doctors. However, at the ULS Santa Maria, only seven of the 33 vacancies were filled, while only 11 of the 40 available places at the ULS in São José were filled.

The ULS of Western Lisbon countered the low vacancy occupancy rate, managing to fill 20 of the 23 vacancies it had available.

In the Algarve, of the 34 vacancies put up for competition, 13 were filled and 21 were unfilled.

The latest data available on the National Health Service (SNS) transparency portal indicate that the number of users without a family doctor has increased throughout this year, rising from 1,564,203 in January to 1,633,701 in April, that is, around 70 thousand more people.