Photography: ARR
In the growing municipality of Mafra, the shortage of local doctors is increasing. A monthly subsidy of 600 euros for five years is intended to incentivize the long-term establishment of general practitioners, family doctors and public health officers.
More than one in three residents of Mafra does not have their own family doctor. The nationwide shortage is therefore particularly acute here. The initiative aims to recruit qualified professionals and was unanimously approved at the Mafra municipal council meeting.
one factor to make it more attractive for professionals to come to the municipality of Mafra
Hugo Moreira Luís, the mayor of Mafra, said in an interview with TVI: “I am convinced of this, and I will seek to deliver that response (to the shortage) so that, as quickly and effectively as possible, we can continue to increase the number of doctors in our municipality.” His plan requires doctors to commit for three years, then the support increases by another 20 percent. It won’t be further continued beyond a five-year period.
The idea isn’t new. The model has already existed for two years, initially with a subsidy of 400 euros. In 2025, this led to the recruitment of three doctors for the region, but not a single one in 2024. For this reason, the monthly amount is now being increased.
Hugo Santos, an intern at the health center USF Ouriceira in Ericeira, is in the process of becoming a professional family doctor. He thinks the subsidy can be one factor to make it more attractive for professionals to come to the municipality of Mafra. For him personally the motivation comes from the roots he has in the region.
However, Santos also knows: “A lot of medical students end up choosing not to be a family doctor and maybe we should ask ourselves why.” Part of the problem is the lack of value placed on general practitioners, he says.
Whether the support will also be extended to existing professionals is still unclear. For Hugo Santos, that does not play a role for now. “If it helps bring in new people, it is more important than equity.” He also notes that practicing doctors are already established and may have been able to buy or rent homes when housing was more affordable.
Hugo Moreira Luís’ goal is for 100% of the population to have a family doctor. Hugo Santos has a different perspective: “In an ideal world everyone should have a family doctor, but in reality not everyone needs one.” Santos argues that the issue is not only a shortage of doctors, but also how they are distributed across the population.
Furthermore, the initiative includes halving the costs for family support for doctors with children of preschool or primary school age.
Ultimately, both Mayor Luís and intern Hugo Santos hope that the incentive will be effective in attracting the necessary professionals to the region. Luís expects the measures to come into force in around 60 days.
Esta publicação também está disponível em | This article is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)
