Fnam president Joana Bordalo e Sá accused the government of inaction and criticised proposed forced mobility in emergency services, warning it could harm maternal care outside large cities.

The National Federation of Doctors (FNAM) reported an estimated 80% participation in the nationwide strike on 24 October. The walkout caused widespread disruption across Portugal’s healthcare system. Many operating rooms were closed and thousands of medical consultations were suspended in both hospitals and health centres.

Fnam president Joana Bordalo e Sá said preliminary figures show particularly high adherence in the North, where hospitals such as São João, Santo António, Padre Américo, and the Portuguese Oncology Institute in Porto halted nearly all scheduled surgeries. In the regions of Alto Minho and Braga, health centres reportedly reached close to 100% participation, while in the Centre, units in Coimbra, Baixo Mondego, and Viseu also joined. In the South, Portalegre’s Hospital Doutor José Maria Grande and Lisbon’s ULS São José adhered completely.

The union leader criticised Health Minister Ana Paula Martins and Prime Minister Luís Montenegro for what she described as “inaction and lack of dialogue,” particularly regarding the government’s proposal for mandatory mobility in regional emergency departments. According to Fnam, the measure risks undermining maternal and neonatal care in areas far from major cities.

Bordalo e Sá further accused the minister of misleading Parliament by claiming the proposal would not advance, arguing that her management failures, such as leadership changes at INEM and delays in oncology services, demonstrate a lack of competence. She called for Martins’ replacement and accused the government of disrespecting negotiations, claiming that new health decrees were already approved before discussions concluded.

The strike coincides with a broader Public Administration walkout organized by the Common Front, which includes teachers, nurses, transport workers, and civil servants, protesting deteriorating working conditions and public service underinvestment.