A new international study by Deco Proteste shows that Portugal is on the list of countries where healthcare costs are most felt and where further care is postponed due to lack of money. In 2025, the Portuguese spent on average 1,397 euros in health and 31% had difficulty paying medical expenses.
The study, released this Monday, was based on a survey, carried out between June and September 2025, with 1,079 Portuguese homes, and with results representative of the population between 18 and 74 years old.
The most frequent expenses and with the greatest financial impact are prescription medicationsmentioned by 93% of respondents, which represent an average annual expenditure of 415 eurosfollowed by two over-the-counter medicines(mentioned by 78%), with an average of 201 euros expenses monthly.
In addition, reports were made of expenses with prescription glasses or contact lenses (48%) represent a significant burden, with an average of 428 euros, as well as psychological and psychiatric carewhose average cost reaches 463 euros.
Dental treatments, glasses and medical appointments are the most postponed
Among the countries analyzed by the study carried out in partnership with the Euroconsumers in four European countries: Portugal, Belgium, Italy and Spain, Portugal is the country with the highest percentage (31%) of healthcare postponements due to lack of economic conditions.
Dental treatments, purchasing glasses or ophthalmological care, as well as medications and medical appointments are some of the treatments most postponed by the Portuguese, who, given the lack of financial conditions, are forced to prioritize other expenses to the detriment of health spendingconsider at Deco.
In other European countries, the percentage of postponements of treatments due to lack of money go down to 27% in Italy, 22% in Belgium and 16% in Spain.
SNS does not meet all needs
The same international study indicates that the National Health Service (SNS) does not cover all users’ medical needs and that, with themore than half of Portuguese people already use insurance or health plans as an alternative to SUS.
“Although the National Health Service is universal, the study shows that it does not cover all needs, leading consumers to incur significant expenses for medicines, exams and specialized care”, reads the press release from .
“The results reinforce a worrying reality: in Portugal, access to healthcare continues to be strongly conditioned by financial capacity. For Deco Protestsit is essential to reinforce the public response, improve access and ensure that no one has to choose between taking care of their health or meeting other day-to-day expenses”, the same statement reads.
