More than 107 thousand people had a family doctor in Portugal: What did the RNU cleanse change?

In Portugal, the update of patient records in the healthcare system has led to a significant change in the number of people waiting for a family doctor.

Following updates to the Registo Nacional de Utente (RNU), it was reported that 107,453 more people were matched with their family doctor.

However, the basic capacity problem in the healthcare system has not been resolved. In particular, Lisboa e Vale do Tejo and the Algarve continue to be the regions where access to a family doctor is most problematic.

What has changed at RNU?

Registo Nacional de Utente, national identity and registration database of users in the Serviço Nacional de Saúde system.

With the updates that came into effect on July 4, the aim was to match the records in the system more accurately with the current situation.

In the period of approximately one and a half months until August 24, the total number of registrations at RNU reached approximately 19.3 million.

On the other hand, the number of users registered in primary health care services was reported as 10,807,867.

Since these two numbers do not measure the same thing, they should not be directly compared to conclude that "8.5 million people do not have access to healthcare."

How did 107,453 people find a family doctor?

Updating the records allowed some records that no longer reflected the current situation to be separated from the system and a more accurate calculation of the capacity in family doctors' patient lists.

As a result, 107,453 people who did not have a family doctor before were included in their doctor lists. It is reported that it can be done.

Therefore, the development does not mean that a new capacity of 107 thousand doctors has been created.

Rather, it is a matter of redistributing existing capacity through current patient records.

Trouble continues in Lisboa and Algarve

Data show that regional inequality in access to a family doctor continues.

In particular, Lisboa e Vale do Tejo and the Algarve are among the most affected regions.

The President of the Associação Portuguesa de Medicina Geral e Familiar also considers the registration update as a necessary process, but points out that it does not solve the main problem.

The main problem is the capacity of primary care services to recruit the number of doctors they need.

What does it mean for the user?

It may be useful for people whose family doctor appointment has changed after the RNU update to check their records in the SNS system.

However, this regulation does not mean that everyone in Portugal now has a family doctor.

There continues to be a significant population waiting for a family doctor, especially in the Lisbon area and the Algarve.

Resources

Jornal Económico — 21 September 2026

https://jornaleconomico.sapo.pt/noticias/atualizacoes-do-registo-nacional-de-utente-ja-deu-medico-de-familia-a-mais-107-mil-utentes/

Serviço Nacional de Saúde

https://www.sns.gov.pt/