It is now possible to request medical examinations via video call

Notifications and notices relating to medical boards can be made, starting this Monday, electronically and the beneficiaries will be able to request a medical examination via video call.

The measure is part of the decree-law that changes the disability verification system within the scope of social security that was published in Diário da República on January 5th and which received warnings from the President of the Republic, with Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, upon its promulgation on December 29th, highlighting the importance of safeguarding access to processes by medical verification boards.

“The processes for verifying incapacity, disability and dependence are dematerialized (…). The medical information, auxiliary means of diagnosis and reports from specialist doctors presented by the beneficiary, whenever they are not in electronic form, are digitized and included in an annex to the dematerialized process, when justifying the justification for the medical acts”, states the diploma.

According to the decree-law, “the beneficiary can request a medical examination via video call” for verification of temporary or permanent disabilitywhenever it appears appropriate for the assessment to be carried out, as long as it is complemented with clinical information available or to be made available for this purpose.

Also the verification commissionsin reassessment and appeal may be carried out by video callin situations to be defined by the social security services.

The diploma clarifies that the verification of situations of permanent incapacity, disability or dependence, is embodied in the analysis of data relating to the physical, motor, organic, sensory and intellectual conditions of the beneficiaries.

The technical verification of disability conditions is carried out by multidisciplinary teams, or by a certifying entity, and is carried out by medical and technical experts from social security or other bodies, under the terms and for the purposes set out in specific diplomas.

The beneficiary is summoned, at least two working days in advance, for a medical examination through the social security electronic notification system, by SMS, email message, registered with Social Security, in person or by any other means provided for by law and will be informed of the effects of not attending.