Portugal's maternity crisis deepens as obstetrics units collapse under staff shortages

A recent audit has uncovered severe staffing shortages in the South Lisbon and Tagus Valley Local Health Unit (ULSAR). The investigation followed repeated closures of obstetrics emergency services, leaving pregnant women without critical care. The findings highlight long-standing issues in healthcare provision across the Setúbal Peninsula. The audit, carried out between April 13 and May 4, 2025, exposed deep structural and operational flaws within ULSAR. The unit, responsible for around 220,000 residents in Barreiro, Moita, Montijo, and Alcochete, struggled with a chronic lack of specialists. Of its 11 obstetrics physicians, only seven were available for emergency duties, forcing frequent reliance on outsourced staff.

Pay gaps between contract workers and permanent employees added to the dissatisfaction. The emergency department closed on 77.2% of the days reviewed, averaging 18.7 closure days per month in early 2025. The situation reached a crisis point on April 20, 25, and 26, when all three obstetrics emergency services on the south bank of the Tagus shut simultaneously. In response, the Health Ministry launched a regional emergency unit for gynaecology and obstetrics on April 15, 2025. This new facility aims to stabilise services disrupted by persistent staff shortages. The strategy reflects broader efforts to address systemic failures in maternal healthcare access.

The audit’s findings confirm the urgent need for staffing reforms in ULSAR. With the new regional unit now operational, authorities hope to reduce service interruptions. However, long-term solutions will require addressing pay disparities and recruiting more specialist physicians.