Integrated approach for developing health care sistems between North Portugal, Portugal and Galicia, Spain

On health issues EuroACE is working to improve transportation accessibility and management of human resources in the Algarve/Andalucia border region despite the lack of established protocols. There are some established health care protocols for collaboration between each countries administrations. One is dedicated to the provision of pre-natal care, child-birth and neonatal care to pregnant women and babies from the border area at the Hospital de Badajoz, and another for sharing of resources and diagnostic tests for cancer patients. These protocols were developed under the project supported by PET-CT PIC INTERREG III A, 2000-2006.At this moment we are preparing a review of these protocols, based on the arrangement between Spain and Portugal on Transfrontier Sanitaria Cooperation, which should be completed in April 2011 together with a Strategic Health Plan on EuroACE.

In the area of continuing care there may be an increased participation of the Alentejo Centre, as these services are structured in different way from Extremadura, where there isn’t an independent approach to these services. The areas of drug addiction and mental health may be autonomised through specific meetings with technical experts for planning concrete actions and establishing further objectives. Within EuroAAA there is a good relationship between the participating entities which it has resulted in projects such as telemedicine.

The participation of the Alentejo region has been less relevant and less important than cooperation in EuroACE space.The improvement of social services for the aged and isolated communities is another objective in the border area.

Phone: +351 213 133 000

mail to: soniamendes@dgal.pt