The “Saúde em Movimento” (Health in Motion) scheme, which offers free transport to medical appointments, examinations and treatments at public health facilities, is run by the Vila Real de Santo António City Council in cooperation with the local Santa Casa da Misericórdia.

The service is available only to residents and also includes travel between the different sites of the Misericórdia, providing help to those citizens who have greater social vulnerability or mobility problems and who do not have their own means of transport.

How to access the service

In order to get this assistance, residents have to satisfy certain operational and eligibility conditions. To access the service, residents must show a valid National Health Service (SNS) card or a medical prescription for the medical procedure in question and have to book it with the Municipal Health Office either by phone, email or in person at least three business days before the date of the appointment.

The programme will give the customer their pickup time no later than the second business day prior to the trip, and all the schedules and routes are centrally arranged in order to optimise the passengers' journeys.

Technical limitations

The program does, however, have some technical limitations, since it is not possible to carry people who use wheelchairs or those who need continuous medical attention throughout the journey, for example, individuals requiring oxygen therapy or the administration of intravenous medication.

In certain cases, an accompanying person is necessary; it is mandatory in the case of minors and allowed for disabled citizens who have a Multipurpose Medical Certificate of
Disability.

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