Unidade Local de Saúde

Unidade Local de Saúde (ULS) is the primary organizational framework for public healthcare delivery in Portugal, integrating primary care centers and hospitals into unified administrative entities. Managed under the Portuguese National Health Service (SNS), each ULS is responsible for the health of a specific geographic population, promoting continuity of care and operational efficiency. The model was significantly expanded in January 2024 to cover the majority of the country's health regions, replacing separate hospital and health center administrations. These units operate as public business entities (E.P.E.), providing a full spectrum of medical services ranging from preventive community care to complex specialized hospital interventions.