Portugal's nurses demand reforms at historic 7th National Congress

The 7th National Nursing Congress opened on May 14, 2026, in Gondomar, Portugal, drawing around 7,000 nurses and over 1,000 students. Key discussions focused on workforce retention, economic recognition, and the future role of nurses in the country’s healthcare system.

Luís Filipe Barreira, president of the Portuguese Nurses Association, kicked off the event by highlighting the growing influence of nurses in national healthcare debates. He noted their readiness to help shape policy decisions.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro attended the congress and received the association’s gold medal. In his speech, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ongoing dialogue with nursing professionals. He also pointed to the recent addition of 2,126 nurses to the National Health Service (SNS) since his term began. Cláudia Estevão, a nurse and lawmaker, called for real retention incentives throughout nurses’ careers to stop talent from leaving for jobs abroad. Isabel Fernandes, another lawmaker, added that professional recognition and greater clinical autonomy were essential to keeping nurses in Portugal. Ricardo Rosado, representing the Central Administration of the Health System, warned of Portugal’s demographic and epidemiological challenges. He stressed that retention policies must be strengthened to meet future healthcare demands. The congress panel on nursing shortages agreed that an integrated workforce strategy was critical for long-term stability. Other central themes included economic recognition, expanding clinical autonomy, and proposals to assign a dedicated family nurse to every patient.

The congress ended with a clear focus on retention and policy reform. Nurses and officials agreed that economic incentives, professional autonomy, and strategic workforce planning must be prioritised. These steps aim to address Portugal’s evolving healthcare needs and reduce the risk of staff shortages.