The visit was part of the minister's tour of the country's Local Health Units, with the aim of assessing the SNS's preparedness for the winter period and the expected increase in the number of users of health services.

In Famalicão, Ana Paula Martins was welcomed by the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ave Local Health Unit (ULS do Ave), Fernando Vales, and by the Deputy Mayor of Famalicão, Pedro Oliveira, the councillor responsible for health.

During the visit, Pedro Oliveira conveyed to the Minister the municipality's total willingness to collaborate with the Ministry of Health on the interventions deemed necessary at Famalicão Hospital.

‘I conveyed to the Minister the concerns we have expressed regarding the need for an intervention to improve conditions at Famalicão Hospital,’ said Pedro Oliveira.

The mayor also emphasised the municipality's willingness to support projects to expand, modernise and renovate both the hospital's physical structure and the equipment and services provided to the population.

He stressed that these needs ‘are in line with the municipality's population growth, have been duly identified and coordinated with the ULS administration, and reflect the current reality of Vila Nova de Famalicão’.

It should be noted that the municipality is currently investing in the construction and refurbishment of seven primary healthcare units, with a financial commitment of almost thirteen million euros, distributed across refurbishment, expansion and construction works for new infrastructure in various parishes.

Following this political priority, the Mayor, Mário Passos, has scheduled a meeting with the Minister of Health for the first days of January, in which he intends to further discuss these issues and strengthen institutional cooperation.