Order and family doctors "repudiate the removal" of monitoring low-risk pregnant women in health centers

The recent Normative Dispatch n.º11/2026 has sparked criticism from the Medical Association and family doctors regarding the management of low-risk pregnancies in health centers. The new regulations assign this responsibility to specialized nurses, which the doctors argue undermines their role and compromises continuity of care. They emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach, where family doctors play a crucial role in monitoring pregnant women. The Medical Association has requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Health to discuss these concerns, highlighting that the decision could discourage new doctors from choosing family medicine as a specialty. They demand a revision of the model to ensure regular involvement of family doctors in prenatal care.