ULS of Coimbra invests 876 thousand euros in three Clinical Care centers

The Coimbra Local Health Unit (ULS) will invest more than 850 thousand euros in 2025 in the three Clinical Care Centers (CAC) that recently came into operation, within the scope of partnerships with structures in the social sector.

In total, 876,810 euros will be distributed by the CACs of Cantanhede (163,050 euros) and Oliveira do Hospital (349,760 euros), in the district of Coimbra, and Avelar (364 thousand euros), in the municipality of Ansião, district of Leiria.

“This amount reflects the commitment of the ULS of Coimbra to innovative and decentralized solutions in response to acute disease, promoting proximity and efficiency”, justified the administration, in response to the Lusa agency, highlighting that the amounts differ according to the level of service and opening hours.

According to the administration, the three CACs in operation will represent savings of 1.54 million euros for the public purse.

“From an economic point of view, serving the number of users expected in the Multipurpose Emergency Service would cost 2,416,901.62 euros”, stressed the ULS, adding that the amount saved does not include the amounts related to transport and costs borne by users.

“In the medium and long term, these structures optimize available resources and contribute to the sustainability of the NHS, especially in critical periods, such as winter,” he said.

According to that structure, which covers 21 municipalities, the investment “is highly rewarding for the National Health Service (SNS), since the CACs offer an efficient and decentralized response to acute situations of lesser complexity”.

On the other hand, the administration emphasizes, it reduces the pressure on hospital emergency services and the costs associated with unnecessary hospital care.

Furthermore, “they improve accessibility to healthcare, strengthen the link between primary and hospital care and promote user satisfaction by offering a quality alternative nearby”.

The ULS of Coimbra highlighted that the CACs are part of an integrated vision to improve the provision of health care and that, together with the “Call Before, Save Lives” program and the Health Emergency Plan, they complement the existing service network, ensuring closer and more efficient care for the population.

In response to questions from the Lusa agency, the administration also revealed that it plans to open two new CACs to complete coverage of the six health communities of the ULS in Coimbra, ensuring an equitable and integrated response throughout the region.

The opening of these units follows a set of criteria that include installed capacity and strategic location, history of collaboration with the SNS, available infrastructure and human resources and their sustainability and integration.

At CAC, patients have access to clinical analyses, electrocardiograms and conventional radiology (X-rays).