"We have been discussing new strategies for telemedicine and the use of telemedicine (...). We expect to have a plan for the territory within 90 days", the chairman of the ULS board of directors, Alexandre Lourenço, told Lusa at the end of a meeting of the Intermunicipal Community of the Leiria Region (CIMRL), in Alvaiázere.

According to Alexandre Lourenço, the meeting, which discussed investments in structural funds and their implementation in these municipalities, also addressed "the issue of a collaboration protocol of incentives, to attract doctors to this territory".

"It is a work that we are doing together and I hope that by the end of the month we will be able to present this incentive plan to attract doctors publicly", added Alexandre Lourenço.

The president of the ULS added that another of the objectives is to "establish partnerships with the social sector that will meet identified needs", namely family doctors and "in carrying out complementary means of diagnosis in proximity".

In this way, it is avoided that "patients have to travel to hospitals in Coimbra and can carry out their exams as quickly as possible and even have access to some medical specialties as close as possible to their homes, giving them comfort and allowing better quality of care", also highlighted the head of the ULS of Coimbra.

"We are adding to what we have planned, access to family doctors, access to complementary means of diagnosis, new services for the population, namely remote monitoring of chronic patients, through monitoring of vital signs", he explained.

On the other hand, the ULS is also analysing ways in which family doctors in these municipalities "can have access to specialist consultations" given by doctors who are in hospitals in Coimbra "and manage to schedule teleconsultation consultations", avoiding the displacement of users.

Emphasizing that there is "permanent contact" and a "very good articulation" with the mayors, the president of the ULS of Coimbra recognized that the "essential key point is to guarantee access to a family doctor for the population", which is difficult.

"But the truth is that we have to create ways to attract and retain them in the territory and this partnership between the ULS, the health services and the mayors can bring very good results", he admitted.

The mayor of Alvaiázere, João Paulo Guerreiro, expressed satisfaction with the "path that has been traced" with the ULS.

"Although the problems have not all been solved, we feel that we are on the right track and we are, step by step, overcoming the difficulties that arise through periodic meetings, through much dialogue, openness to listen and to implement solutions", said João Paulo Guerreiro.

In September 2023, the Alvaiázere City Council announced that it would advance with incentives that could reach 1,250 euros/month for the establishment of family doctors in the municipality, where one in three people did not have these doctors at the time.

"Family doctors are rare to find. (...) We will now have a competition, we hope that it will be attractive and we hope to be able to harmonize it with the ULS strategy, so that we can all have the family doctors we need", added João Paulo Guerreiro.

The CIMRL includes Alvaiázere, Ansião, Batalha, Castanheira de Pera, Figueiró dos Vinhos, Leiria, Marinha Grande, Pedrógão Grande, Pombal and Porto de Mós.

The municipalities of Batalha, Leiria, Marinha Grande, Pombal and Porto de Mós are part of the Local Health Unit of the Leiria Region.

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