Ana Paula Martins aims to “understand in detail the response” of the Local Health Units (ULS) during winter by meeting with administration boards and health professionals, and discussing measures to strengthen human and material resources, as well as strategies for coordination between primary, hospital, and continuous care.
On Monday, visits are scheduled to the ULS in the Algarve (Portimão Hospital) and Litoral Alentejano (Santiago do Cacém). The following day, the itinerary includes ULS in Baixo Alentejo (Beja) and Alentejo Central (Évora), the latter with the presence of the executive director of the National Health Service (SNS), Álvaro Almeida.
In October, policies were established to bolster the SNS during autumn and winter, aimed at reorganizing emergency schedules and optimizing human and material resources at local health units.
Measures are set to be in effect from October 1 to April 30, 2026, as part of the Seasonal Health Response Plan, ensuring the continuity and quality of healthcare by allocating human and material resources appropriately within health units.
The seasonal health response plan for the winter commenced on October 1, incorporating three contingency levels to mitigate the impacts of extreme temperatures and the spread of respiratory viruses.
