Portugal to reward locum doctors with bonuses for extra emergency shifts

Portugal’s government is preparing to introduce a new bonus system for locum doctors working extra shifts in public emergency departments. The Cabinet will soon approve a decree that rewards physicians for completing additional hours beyond their standard contracts. Negotiations with medical unions over the exact figures are still ongoing.

The bonus will apply to locum doctors who work extra 48-hour blocks in emergency care. Payment is triggered when they complete the hours or remain available but are not needed due to low patient demand or service constraints. The incentive rises by 20% if a doctor works at least 48 hours over weekends within an eight-week period and agrees to take on another shift.

Full-time physicians can earn bonuses for up to 250 extra hours per year, while others are capped at 150 hours. Clinical directors and emergency department heads will monitor the extra work to ensure it stays within legal safety limits for both staff and patients. The bonus is calculated as a percentage of the doctor’s base salary but does not count toward their regular pay or other supplementary earnings. The decree itself has no fixed end date, though doctors must first use up any existing supplementary hours before the new 48-hour blocks start counting.

Once approved, the decree will formalise pay for emergency shift work in Portugal’s public health system. Doctors will receive extra compensation based on completed 48-hour blocks, with stricter limits for full-time staff. The scheme aims to address staffing pressures while maintaining patient and worker safety.