Every family should have one, but the truth is that 31.1% of the Algarve’s population has not been appointed a family doctor, according to data from the regional health administration (ARS) cited by Sulinformação. This translates into 139,116 people.
The situation is even worse in the western Algarve (Barlavento region). Statistics registered in December 2013 show that 51% of the Barlavento’s population is without a family GP. The most worrying results come from Lagos health centre, where only 28.4% of health service users have a regular family doctor.
There is also a lack of family GPs in Silves – only 54.6% of people have one – Vila do Bispo (54.4%), Portimão (52%) and Aljezur (49.3%).
But in Monchique, nearly every one of the 6,079 people signed up at the local health centre has a GP.
