From this Wednesday, December 10th, the SNS 24 mobile phone application allows the screening of respiratory symptoms, announced the Secretary of State for Health Management, expressing his conviction that the constraints of the SNS 24 Line are overcome.
“Digital screening on mobile phones is now available”, said Francisco Rocha Gonçalves at the parliamentary Health committee, where he was heard at the request of the PSD about the operation of Line SNS 24.
According to the Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS), the new screening for respiratory symptoms in the SNS 24 App is available to users aged 18 and over, allowing acute symptoms to be assessed and referral to the most appropriate level of care.
This new digital process carries out a “quick and safe” initial assessment, the SPMS said in a statement, adding that it provides three possible recommendations, one of which is for emergent situations, with the user being advised to contact INEM immediately, via 112.
In less serious situations, the application recommends contacting the number provided in the digital screening to be answered by a healthcare professional or, if available, scheduling an appointment directly at a healthcare facility.
In non-serious cases, the recommendation will be to carry out and maintain some specific care, said the SPMS.
Still in relation to the plan that is in force for the winter, a time of greater call overload due to respiratory infections, the Secretary of State told deputies that the line has been reinforced with an additional 350 professionals, who will subsequently remain in that service.
Francisco Rocha Gonçalves also mentioned that, in relation to the use of artificial intelligence, it will be a “process that will be humanized”, allowing the algorithm to provide guidance, but it will be a nurse or doctor who decides the patient’s fate.
In the parliamentary committee, the Secretary of State also highlighted that the Government took on a set of “structural measures” in 2024 to transform the way citizens access healthcare, with the expansion of the “call first, save lives” project to 27 local health units.
“The decision was considered and, despite the inherent risks and natural growing pains, it proved to be the right one. The benefits for users, professionals and the entire NHS are measured”, assured Francisco Rocha Gonçalves, admitting that this evolution added additional pressure on the line.
“We recognize that there was a gap between the moments of decision, those of implementation and the full materialization of results, but we believe that the constraints of access to the SNS 24 line are now overcome”, he highlighted.
“This is not an act of faith, but careful observation of reports and indicators”, said the government official, adding that the service rate is 93% and the average waiting time for users is two and a half minutes.
Of the measures implemented, he highlighted the reinforcement of the pool of professionals to 3700, compared to 1600 two years ago, to respond to the increase in contacts over time, which increased from 3.5 million to 5.2 million calls.
“People have trusted the line, which has ended up being a bit, over these months, a victim of its own success and as a result it forces us to work with redoubled effort”, said Francisco Rocha Gonçalves.