Portugal’s SNS state health service computer system has been down since 10am today in several local health units (hospitals/ health centres, etc.), preventing doctors from issuing prescriptions and accessing patients’ electronic records.
FNAM, the national federation of doctors, has confirmed the situation, explaining that it has left hospitals in limbo. “We have a patient in front of us but we don’t know who they are or what condition they have…” a source explains.
According to some media outlets, the extent of the failure may also be affecting private hospitals.
One positive detail is that the Portuguese Oncology Institutes (IPOs) are not reporting any IT failures.
Issues have apparently also spread to the SNS 24 app – the platform health service users are expected to access before turning up at hospitals for emergency treatment – and to the SNS prescription service.
Source material: LUSA/ SIC Notícias/ Correio da Manhã
Natasha Donn
Journalist for the Portugal Resident.