Continuing care system in Portugal loses more than 750 beds in five years: Closures in 2026 draw attention

The capacity problem in Portugal's long-term and continuous care system is on the agenda again. More than 750 continuing care beds have closed in the country in the past five years, according to the Associação Nacional dos Cuidados Continuados (ANCC), with the size of closures occurring in 2026 alone increasing significantly compared to previous years.

The data is especially important for patients who need rehabilitation or ongoing care after leaving the hospital. Industry representatives argue that the new capacity created within the scope of Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência (PRR) is not enough to compensate for the lost beds.

More than 750 beds closed in five years

According to the data made public by ANCC on September 23, there has been a loss of more than 750 beds in the capacity of Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados in the last five years.

However, the speed in 2026 is as remarkable as the total figure.

According to the data provided by the industry association, hundreds of beds left the system this year and the capacity closed before the end of the year reached a serious level compared to previous years.

In the assessment reported by RTP, ANCC points out that the number of beds closed in 2026 exceeds the total of losses in the previous four years.

New PRR bearings do not completely solve the problem

Portugal is carrying out new projects to increase continuous maintenance capacity within the scope of PRR investments.

However, according to the ANCC, only new beds Looking at the opening does not show the net capacity change in the system. In the same period, some of the new investments replace the lost capacity due to the closure of existing beds.

This distinction is important: opening a new care unit or bed does not mean that the total system capacity grows by the same amount.

For the net result, the newly opened capacity and the capacity leaving the system must be evaluated together.

Why are beds closing?

One of the main problems that the sector has been raising for a long time is financing.

While the costs of continuing care institutions are affected by the increase in personnel, energy, food and other operating expenses, sector representatives criticize that public financing is not updated at the same pace.

As a result, there is a risk that some institutions will reduce their bed capacity or be unable to continue their activities.

However, it is not possible to attribute the total loss of more than 750 beds to a single reason. The announced figure shows the closures compiled by the industry association; The reason for closing each institution may be different.

Why is the continuing care system important?

Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados serves a critical function between the hospital and the home.

Patients who have completed acute hospital treatment but cannot yet return home independently can be referred to this system for rehabilitation, recovery or long-term care.

Adequate care bed Its absence doesn't just affect patients and families. The fact that patients who are medically ready to be discharged from the hospital but cannot be transferred to the appropriate care location remain in hospital beds can also put pressure on acute hospital capacity.

Therefore, continuous care capacity is an indirect part of the emergency room and hospital bed problem.

Home care teams are also part of the system

Continuing care does not only consist of inpatient institutions.

There are also teams within the Rede Nacional de Cuidados Continuados Integrados that allow patients to receive care at home. The information provided by ANCC also points out that in response to the closure of some beds, integrated care teams providing home services have been strengthened.

For this reason, it is not enough to evaluate the state of the system only by the number of physical beds.

However, the decrease in physical capacity continues to be a separate problem for patients who need inpatient care.

Which number will be important next?

The real indicator to be monitored is not only how many new beds are opened within the scope of PRR.

Newly opened beds, existing closed beds, home care capacity and the number of patients waiting for care need to be evaluated together.

The ANCC's latest warning shows that Portugal is having trouble maintaining existing capacity while making new investments in its continuing care system.

Resources

RTP / Antena 1 — Portugal curtainu 750 camas na área de Cuidados Continuados desde 2021, 23 September 2026

https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/pais/portugal-perdeu-750-camas-na-area-de-cuidados-continuados-desde-2021_n1767168

Renascença — Fecharam mais de 750 camas de cuidados continuados em cinco anos, 23 September 2026

https://rr.pt/pais

Jornal de Notícias — Fecharam mais camas de cuidados continuados em 2026 “do que nos últimos três anos”, 23 September 2026

https://www.jn.pt/nacional/artigo/fecharam-mais-camas-de-cuidados-continuados-em-2026-do-que-nos-ultimos-tres-anos/18129566