Novas Unidades de Saúde Familiar a partir de janeiro

29.12.2023

As of January 2024, there will be 222 more type B Family Health Units (USF). These units will allow 300,000 more users to be assigned family doctors. 

In total, 212 type A Family Health Units and 10 Personalized Health Care Units (traditional health centers) will change to this new model. With this change, the National Health Service (SNS) will reach a total of 570 USF-Bs, which will be present in 154 municipalities in mainland Portugal.

Also in 2024, the remaining USF-A units are expected to switch to model B, with retroactive effect to January. 

Model B units are made up of teams of doctors, nurses and clinical secretaries, who contract with the respective Health Centre Groupings to provide a response to a specific population, which then has access to a family doctor and nurse. 

These units have a pay-for-performance model with incentives based on productivity. The transition will have an impact on the pay of more than 3,500 health professionals, including doctors, nurses and clinical secretaries. As far as doctors are concerned, they could see salary increases of at least 60%.

The 51 municipalities that will have a USF-B from January are: 

  • Amarante
  • Chaves
  • Lamego
  • Águeda
  • Albergaria-a-Velha
  • Cabeceiras de Basto
  • Elvas
  • Mealhada
  • Oliveira do Bairro
  • Régua
  • Portimão
  • Tondela
  • Vagos
  • Alcochete
  • Alenquer
  • Alijó
  • Almeirim
  • Alpiarça
  • Anadia
  • Arruda dos Vinhos
  • Campo Maior
  • Castro Marim
  • Celorico de Basto
  • Estremoz
  • Figueiró dos Vinhos
  • Golegã
  • Guarda
  • Lagoa
  • Mêda
  • Mesão Frio
  • Miranda do Corvo
  • Mirandela
  • Moimenta da Beira
  • Monção
  • Murça
  • Murtosa
  • Nelas
  • Nisa
  • Oliveira de Frades
  • Paredes de Coura
  • Penalva do Castelo
  • Ponte da Barca
  • Portel
  • Sabrosa
  • Santa Comba Dão
  • Santa Marta de Penaguião
  • Sines
  • Soure
  • Terras de Bouro
  • Vendas Novas
  • Vila Nova de Poiares

The mechanisms for transitioning to USF model B, as well as the monitoring and follow-up processes for this process, are regulated in an Ordinance published on December 28 in the Diário da República. The ordinance also defines the mission and operation of the National Support Team, which will streamline and standardize the procedure for setting up model B USFs. 

Source: Government Portal