Local Health Unit of Coimbra

The Coimbra Healthcare Integrated Delivery System in Portugal, with over 11,000 employees, is a model of healthcare excellence, exemplifying the benefits of integrated care and innovation.  This expansive system combines public health, primary and specialized care, rehabilitation, and palliative care, offering a seamless patient journey from prevention to long-term management. Its unified approach ensures comprehensive, coordinated healthcare, enhancing patient outcomes and operational efficiency.

Key to Coimbra's success is its commitment to innovation, fostered by a culture of continuous learning and cross-disciplinary collaboration. The close connection with academic and research institutions, particularly the University of Coimbra and the Coimbra Academic and Clinical Center (CACC), keeps the system at the forefront of medical, scientific, and technological progress. This integrated environment is ideal for developing and implementing innovative healthcare solutions, from advanced diagnostics to novel patient care models.

As a leading example of how integrated healthcare systems can operate, Coimbra's approach not only improves patient care but also contributes significantly to the broader healthcare landscape, setting a standard for future healthcare models worldwide.

In the field of clinical research and innovation, Coimbra’s Healthcare Integrated Delivery System, through its Centre for Innovation and Development, actively supports the conduct of interventional and non-interventional studies across all clinical areas, including an Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trials Unit and a Biobank, both within the scope of the CACC. In 2024, there were 137 active clinical trials, around 300 new non-interventional studies, and 20 investigator-initiated trials at different stages of development. Coimbra’s Healthcare Integrated Delivery System is also a partner in more than 20 projects funded at national and European level, positioning itself as a reference institution within the Portuguese National Health Service. The main areas of activity are neurological and cardiovascular diseases, but projects also cover oncology, pulmonary diseases, ophthalmology, and endocrinology.