ULS (local health unit)
Short definition
A ULS (unidade local de saúde, local health unit) is the SNS body that brings hospitals and primary care (health centres) in a geographical area under a single management.
In plain language
The model has existed since 1999, with the Matosinhos ULS, and was extended to the whole of mainland Portugal on 1 January 2024 by Decree-Law no. 102/2023, resulting in 39 ULS. The aim is to better coordinate people's pathway between the health centre, the hospital and the continuing care network. For suppliers, the ULS is the public body that does the purchasing.