Portugal's nurses demand better pay and autonomy at national congress

The 7th National Nursing Congress began on May 14, 2026, in Gondomar, drawing 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 stronger collaboration with the profession. At the opening, Luís Filipe Barreira, president of the association, highlighted the increasing influence of nurses in shaping Portugal’s healthcare policies. He noted their growing recognition of their role’s importance within the system.

Key discussions focused on economic recognition, clinical autonomy, and the proposal to assign a family nurse to every patient. The nursing shortage took centre stage during a panel, where Ricardo Rosado warned that Portugal’s nurse-to-population ratio remains critically low. Isabel Fernandes argued that better professional recognition and autonomy would help retain nurses. Cláudia Estevão added that real incentives throughout careers—not just early on—were essential to stop talent leaving for jobs abroad. Montenegro pointed to progress, citing a 21% increase in nursing consultations in early 2026 and the addition of 2,126 nurses to the SNS since the legislative term began.

The congress underscored both the challenges and advancements in Portugal’s nursing sector. With rising consultation numbers and new hires, the government and nursing leaders face ongoing pressure to address retention and improve working conditions.