[Portuguese rheumatology in 2009: a window towards 2019]

Rheumatology has 60 years in Portugal 31 of them as an autonomous specially. However since the beginning, all of what has been achieved was by a small number of specialists.

To evaluate the human resources in rheumatologists with a link to the Portuguese national health service (SNS) in 2009 and to predict the evaluation until 2019.

Data regarding sex, age, link to SNS was obtained by consulting the Portuguese medical association and the Portuguese society of rheumatology data base.

In 2009 there are 99 specialists linked to SNS that corresponds to 0,93 for 100,000 people with a higher number of female specialists. There is a consistent increase in the number since 2002.

There is a national plan since 2002 and although an increase of number is observed there is still a need for 77 to 119 until 2019.

Considering 50% of needed appointments as our target, Portugal has still one of the lowest ratings in number of rheumatologists per capita in Europe. If nothing is changed the predicted values existing and needed will only be achieve in 2032.