The Ordem dos Médicos (Portuguese Medical Association) is a non-profit association that gathers all the Medical School licensees who practice or have practiced the medical profession in the Portuguese Territory.

The Portuguese Medical Association rules over the whole national territory and has its headquarters in Lisbon. It is composed of three regional sections – North, Centre and South – each one with a corresponding head-office in Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon.

The Portuguese Medical Association operates independently from the Government, any political and religious movements or any other organisations. The democratic system regulates the internal life of the Portuguese Medical Association, namely in what the election and resignation of its directors and the free debate of questions related with the association is concerned.

The main purposes of the Portuguese Medical Association are described below:

a) Protect the ethics, the deontology and the qualification of the medical professional, in order to assure the citizens’ right to a qualified medical service;
b) Promote and protect the interests of the medical profession at all levels, in particular in what the social and professional status, the social security and the work relationships are concerned;
c) Promote the development of the medical culture and contribute for the establishment and steady improvement of the National Health Service, providing cooperation according to the national health policy in every aspects, and in particular at medical teaching and medical career levels;
d) Issue advices for the competent official authorities or upon consultation on every matter related with teaching, practicing and related health services organisation;
e) Watch over the accurate respect of the law, the Association statutes and regulations, in particular in what the medical title and profession is concerned, and promote any legal actions against those who use it or practice it illegally;
f) Issue the professional booklet which is compulsory to all doctors and promote their professional qualification, through the attribution of speciality titles and the active participation at post-graduation training level.