The Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators expressed today its support for the integration of emergency medical ambulances into Local Health Units, recognizing that this measure could bring advantages to the health system. However, APAH made an important warning regarding the conditions that must be met for this transfer to be carried out.
According to the association, the transfer of ambulances to ULS should only proceed if three fundamental elements are guaranteed: adequate funding, sufficient autonomy for the management of resources, and guarantees of the operational capacity of available resources.
This position arises in the context of debates on the reorganization of emergency medical services in Portugal, with ULS increasingly assuming a central role in coordinating local health care. APAH emphasizes that, without the necessary conditions, the integration could compromise the effectiveness of emergency services.
