According to law it is incumbent upon the Portuguese Red Cross's honorary committee to collect of awarding decorations, to prepare and study the respective processes and, prior to the decision of the national president, to issue an opinion on them.

The Medal for Distinguished Services is exclusively award to the employees of Portuguese Red Cross, or to those at its services, and aims to reward the acts practiced in the removal, transport or treatment of patients or injured persons, in situations of armed conflict or in any of the situations related to the prevention and remedying of damage caused by accidents, catastrophes, public calamities, social scourges, epidemics and diseases of high incidence and other disasters or similar accidents and events, as well as the protection and relief of victims affected by them, in accordance with the corresponding national or regional laws and plans.

The awarding of the Gold Medal for Distinguished Services is destined for those who, in the exercise of their duties of direction or leadership, act with such heroism, self-denial or high merit, in any of the situations mentioned in the preceding paragraph, that the honor, prestige and good name of the Red Cross be recognized as exalted.

The Red Cross of Dedication is attributed to natural or legal persons who provide to the institution, on an ongoing basis, services and supports that involve the voluntary donation of their leisure time or whose measure clearly exceeds the mere fulfillment of their duties.

This decoration is granted by the national directorship, on its own initiative or on a reasoned proposal from his members, from command of the corps of relief units, volunteering, delegation or core departments or for those responsible for services and sectors.