Portugal's nursing crisis takes centre stage at 7th National Congress

The 7th National Nursing Congress opened on May 14, 2026, in Gondomar, gathering around 7,000 nurses and over 1,000 students. Prime Minister Luís Montenegro attended the event, where he received the Portuguese Nurses Association’s gold medal and pledged to strengthen dialogue with healthcare workers.

During the congress, the nursing shortage took centre stage. Luís Filipe Barreira, president of the Portuguese Nurses Association, highlighted the increasing importance of nurses in shaping Portugal’s healthcare future. He spoke to a packed audience about the profession’s evolving role.

Prime Minister Montenegro noted progress in recruitment, stating that 2,126 nurses had joined the National Health Service (SNS) since his government took office. Despite this, he acknowledged the need for further action. Ricardo Rosado warned that Portugal faces a demographic and epidemiological shift, demanding stronger retention policies. Without them, speakers agreed, the country risks a more expensive and unequal healthcare system. Isabel Fernandes stressed that professional recognition and clinical autonomy are key to keeping nurses in the system. Cláudia Estevão added that retention incentives must span entire careers, not just early years. The congress also discussed economic recognition, greater autonomy, and assigning a family nurse to every patient.

The event closed with a clear message: without a coordinated strategy for workforce planning and retention, Portugal’s healthcare challenges will deepen. Speakers called for immediate policy changes to secure a stable and fair system for both nurses and patients.