Portugal healthcare integration shows stagnation in new study

A study by the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH) reveals that the integration of primary and hospital healthcare services has stagnated. Following a 2024 reform that created 31 new Local Health Units (ULS) to merge health centers and hospitals into single geographic entities, professionals rated global care integration at 3.29 on a 5-point scale, a figure identical to the previous year.

The research indicates that ULS established prior to 2024 maintain a higher perception of integration, scoring 3.42. APAH president Xavier Barreto noted that while results are moderately positive, the lack of improvement is concerning and suggests that the integration process requires more time to manifest effectively on the ground.