The National Health Service (SNS 24) has expanded its network with the opening of two new service desks in the municipality of Cascais. The new facilities are located in the parish of São Domingos de Rana and the union of parishes of Carcavelos/Parede.
During the inaugurations, the Secretary of State for Health Management, Francisco Pinheiro Catalão, emphasized that these desks are crucial for "the construction of a National Health Service that is closer, more accessible, and more inclusive".
Catalão highlighted that digital transformation is changing how citizens interact with public services, enabling the simplification of processes, reduction of unnecessary travel, and easier access to information and care. However, he also acknowledged that "innovation is only truly transformative when it reaches everyone", regardless of age, social status, or digital literacy level.
The SNS 24 Service Desks embody "a simple idea: technology should bring the National Health Service closer to people", stated the Secretary of State. With these new openings, the national network of SNS 24 Service Desks has reached 464, with a goal to expand to 500.
In these spaces, citizens can perform various tasks, such as updating personal data or renewing prescriptions. The professionals present also assist with booking appointments and conducting teleconsultations.
Francisco Pinheiro Catalão stressed that these structures, by reinforcing "proximity and equity in access to digital health services", ensure that no one is left behind in the modernization of the SNS. The SNS 24 Service Desks are one of several access channels, alongside the SNS 24 Line, which handles over 20,000 calls daily, the Portal, and the SNS 24 App, which has over 14.5 million downloads.
