Who is entitled to priority care?
The person with a degree of disability equal to or greater than 60% (proven by AMIM), the pregnant woman, the companion of a child up to 2 years old and the person over 65 years old and with visible difficulties in locomotion or cognition, in the face-to-face service, public or private.
Should you ask for priority care yourself?
Yes, the citizen may have to prove to the employee of the establishment, the degree of disability, the age equal to or greater than 65 years even if he has changes or limitations of physical or mental functions, the age of the lap child and pregnancy, or even that he has an interest in the exercise of this right.
If there are 2 or more people who want priority care, who has priority?
If there are several people in those circumstances in the same queue, the service is done on a first-come, first-served basis.
Are there places/situations where priority care does not apply?
Yes. Priority service does not apply in the following situations:
- Face-to-face service to the public through pre-arrangement services;
- health care providers when the right to health protection and access to health care is at stake (the order of care should be determined according to the clinical evaluation);
- Registrars or other registration entities, when the change of the attendance order calls into question the attribution of a subjective right or position of advantage arising from the priority of the registration.
What to do if priority is refused?
You can request the presence of the police authority and make a written complaint to:
- National Institute for Rehabilitation;
- General Inspectorate, regulatory body or other body to whose inspection or sanctioning powers the entity that committed the infringement is subject. For example, in a catering establishment, the complaint must be made to the Food and Economic Safety Authority (ASAE).
For more information see the Decree-Law No 58/2016 of 29 August 2016 HERE