The majority of cases are related to the elderly and are due to a lack of places in long-term care. North and Lisbon and Tagus Valley are the most affected regions.
The number of patients admitted without clinical need in National Health Service (SNS) hospitals continues to increase and, according to the most recent barometer from the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH), on March 19, 2026 there were 2807 people unduly hospitalized. This corresponds to 13.8% of hospital beds and an increase of 19% compared to the previous year.
These patients, mostly elderly, remain in hospitals after clinical discharge due to a lack of alternatives, such as places in the National Continuing Care Network or in nursing homes. In total, they accumulated almost 440 thousand days of unnecessary hospitalizationwith an average stay of 157 days, says .
The majority of these cases are concentrated in the North and in Lisbon and Vale do Tejo, regions that represent 85% of improper admissions. In these areas, rates exceed the national average, reaching 18% in São Paulo. Medical clinic services are the most affected, accounting for almost half of the cases.
Although some hospitals resort to hiring vacancies in the social and private sector, capacity remains insufficient. The problem lies mainly in the scarcity of structural responses: 45% of cases result from lack of vacancies in continued care and 27% of the delay in accessing homes.
APAH recognizes recent efforts, such as financing the Recovery and Resilience Plan or creating temporary responses, but considers them insufficient in light of the aging population. Among the solutions highlighted is the reinforcement of home supportnamely through the SAD + Saúde project, which provides expanded assistance at home.
The financial impact is also significant. Undue hospitalization costs more than 350 million euros per yearand this estimate may still be underestimated. Even so, experts argue that investing in home care could be more efficient and also safer, avoiding risks such as hospital infections.
