The computer constraints in the SNS conditioned access to prescriptions in pharmacies, but the situation was almost resolved by 4:00 p.m., Lusa the president of AFP told.
© Lusa
19/10/2026
by
Lusa
Ocomputer constraints in the SNS also conditioned access to prescriptions in pharmacies, but the situation was almost resolved around 4:00 p.m., Lusa told the president of the Associação Farmácias de Portugal (AFP).
In statements to Lusa, Marisa Inacio stated that she was still in contact with pharmacies to monitor the replacement of services, after difficulties in accessing prescriptions and other functionalities associated with the number of users have been reported during the day, including the vaccination report.
By 2:00 p.m., some pharmacies were already able to access the vaccine report, including those who were administering vaccines, although limitations and momentary failures persisted.
As regards the prescriptions, there were still constraints, leading AFP to issue a statement addressed to pharmacies, with guidance on the response to users, said the person responsible.
According to Marisa Ignacio, chronic medication was safeguarded, pointing out as main difficulties the dispensing of new drugs or cases where it was not possible to consult the complete prescription, namely antibiotics prescribed in hospitals or health centers.
Also the National Association of Pharmacies (ANF) received, at about 4:00 p.m., indication that the situation would be resolved, after having started to receive reports of difficulties in accessing prescriptions from 10:30 p.m., told Lusa Ema Paulino, president of the association.
Ema Paulino explained that access to the prescription database is necessary in order to identify drugs with active prescription lines, to dispense electronically and to register such waiver.
In emergency situations, when users need medicines, pharmacies have procedures that allow them to dispense and then regulate the situation, he explained.
However, the president of ANF stressed that the difficulties in accessing central information represent an embarrassment to the activity of pharmacies.
The Shared Services of the Ministry of Health (SPMS) attributed the constraints to a problem in their ‘date center’, identified during the morning. By 12:00, some computer support systems for health centers and hospitals had already been restored.
“The problem has been identified immediately and the technical teams are working for the rapid replacement of services and support systems for the SNS,” they stressed.
The failure of the computer system was denounced to Lusa by the National Federation of Doctors (Fnam), which warned of the unavailability of the Medical Electronic Prescription (PEM) and the Electronic Health Register (RSE) in several local health units (ULS).
In statements to the agency Lusa, the vice president of Fnam, Joana Bordalo and Sá, stated that doctors were unable to pass prescriptions and consult the electronic processes of patients.
“ This limits our medical act, it is insecurity in the consultations we are making, besides delaying all our work ", said the union leader, who regretted that users are the most harmed, especially those who had a consultation at a health center or hospital today.