According to the World Bank income level classification, Portugal is considered a high income country.[1] In 2022, Portugal registered a total of 10,270,873 inhabitants with a expected decrease of 9.8% to 9,261,313 by 2050.[1] The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 12.3% of the population is between 0-14 years, 68.2% is estimated to be 15-64 years and 19.5% is expected to be 65+ years old.[1]
The healthcare system in Portugal has been submitted to significant transformations over the past years, leading to significant improvements in health indicators such as life expectancy, child mortality rates, and the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Life expectancy in Portugal is estimated to be 82.55 years, reflecting advancements in healthcare access and quality.[1] Infant and child mortality rates have reduced over the years, aligning the country performance with the improvements observed across Europe.[2][3][4] There are however challenges, such as the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms.[5]
Furthermore, Portugal is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, which leads to new risks to public health. The country is expected to experience frequent heatwaves, decrease of the air quality, and the potential spread of vector-borne diseases with direct implications on the population.[6] Facing this challenges, the Portuguese National Health Service plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges, ensuring universal healthcare coverage that allow the population easier access to healthcare.