There are 9 health centers in the Algarve and 40 in the Alentejo operating with extended opening hours (weekdays) or complementary opening hours (weekends and holidays), providing a close response to the community in non-emergent health situations.
In the country as a whole, there are 176 health centers operating with extended hours.
According to the Ministry of Health, this adaptation of capacity at the level of primary health care aims to «respond to a greater demand from the population in the autumn/winter months and reduce the demand for emergency services in non-emergent situations».
In the Algarve, the Alcoutim Health Centers have extended their opening hours (Saturdays only, from 9 am to 16 pm), as well as those in Faro (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 9 am to 18 pm), Lagoa ((Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 00 pm to 14 pm), Monchique (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 20:00 am to 8:30 pm), Olhão ((Saturdays, Sundays and holidays , from 14 am to 30 pm), Portimão ((Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 9 am to 18 pm), São Brás de Alportel (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 00 am to 8 pm), Silves ((Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 20 am at 00 pm) and Tavira ((Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 9 am to 15 pm).
In Baixo Alentejo, the Health Centers of Aljustrel (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 8 am to 13 pm), Almodôvar (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 00 am to 8 pm), Beja (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 13 am to 00 pm), Cuba (Saturdays and holidays, from 8 am to 14 pm, Sundays, from 00 am to 8 pm), Ferreira do Alentejo (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 20 am to 00 pm), Mértola (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 8 am to 13 pm), Ourique (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 00 am to 8 pm), Serpa (Saturdays only), Vidigueira (Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from 13 am to 00 pm).
Click here to see the complete Algarve list e here in Alentejo.
In a note sent to the newsrooms, the Ministry of Health explains that, as provided for in the “Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Health for the Seasonal Response in Health – winter 2022-2023”, publicly presented this week, the places with extended or complementary services have already been updated in the area dedicated to the Winter Plan on the Portal of the National Health Service (SNS).
«This update will be done regularly, to allow a better knowledge and collaboration of all users and their families in the proper use of health services».
For better service and advice, MS reinforces the importance of first calling SNS 24 (808 24 24 24), for proper screening and referral of each situation, for a faster response and also for better activity planning of the SNS.
Operationalization of the “Via Verde ACeS” is also underway in the Emergency Services (SU), with a protocol already signed with 24 Groupings of Health Centers (ACeS), out of a total of 55, in conjunction with hospital units.
«This response allows users sorted as non-urgent – that is, white, blue or green wristband – to be referred from hospitals to health centers, with a previously defined date and time, being attended to, at most, in 24 hours», explains the Ministry of Health.
«Acceptance of referral to health centers exempts users from paying user fees», he adds.
Heading into winter, the Ministry of Health calls on all eligible citizens to get vaccinated against seasonal flu and COVID-19. The open house modality, which does not require an appointment, is available this week for people over 65 years old.
Also within the scope of the “Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Health for the Seasonal Response in Health”, a new weekly monitoring report on the Seasonal Response in Health will be released, with the publication of reports dedicated only to the COVID-19.
The publication of the new document will start next week. Updated monitoring indicators are available in the area dedicated to the Winter Plan on the SNS Portal.
The ultimate objective of the “Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Health for the Seasonal Response in Health – winter 2022-2023” is, underlines the MoH, “to protect the health of all, minimizing the occurrence of cases of acute respiratory infections, the need for to the various levels of health care, loss of productivity, hospitalizations and deaths».
For this, it is “essential to ensure the normal functioning of services and the capacity to respond to all situations of illness, as well as to reinforce health promotion activities and effective communication with the population”.
Corrected at 21:33, adding the health center of São Brás de Alportel
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