SNS (Portuguese National Health Service)
Short definition
The SNS (Serviço Nacional de Saúde, National Health Service) is the set of public institutions and services through which the Portuguese State guarantees the right to health protection, universally and comprehensively.
In plain language
It was created in 1979 and is funded mainly through taxation. It includes health centres, hospitals and other units, which on the mainland are now organised into local health units (ULS). The Azores and Madeira have their own regional health services.