In a statement, the ACSS said that the new rules for organising and managing the RNU and registering users in Primary Health Care (APS) came into effect on 1 April, highlighting that the new legislation “will allow for improving the quality of data and establishing new rules for registering users in the system”.

“These diplomas make it possible to improve the quality of user identification and ensure that those who need it have access to a family doctor,” added the ACSS.

According to the same source, there are currently 267,828 users with incomplete data in RNU.

The ACSS detailed that registration with the RNU “is mandatory for all citizens who interact with a health unit of the National Health Service (SNS)”.

The registration guarantees citizens a unique and definitive National User Number (NNU), and “under no circumstances is a temporary number assigned in the SNS”.

According to ACSS, registration with the CSP “requires the user to have an updated registration with the RNU”.

The Local Health Units (ULS) have promoted the updating and regularisation of records through direct contact with patients, with the ACSS ensuring that SUS health units will continue the process of contacting users with incomplete mandatory data.

The contact process occurs at different times, with the first occurring at the time of registration classification in the RNU and the second 90 days after the first contact and extended for another 90 days.

“Users always have the possibility to update their data, simply by going to a health unit and presenting the necessary documentation”, highlighted the ACSS.

“We reinforce the importance of timely updating of data to guarantee continuous access to SNS services and we appeal to all users to regularise their information with their Health Unit”, added this entity in the press release.

ACSS also emphasised that "the quality of data in RNU is critical to the efficiency of response and contact with users, reducing duplication, inconsistencies and allowing to obtain complete reliable data on each user."