Directorate General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde, DGS)

Directorate General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde, DGS) is a public body of the Ministry of Health that positions itself as a reference for all those who think and operate in the healthcare field. Its main areas of activity are:

• To issue clinical and organizational guidelines;
• To guide and develop programmes of:
  • Public health;
  • Improved healthcare;
  • Total clinical and organizational quality management;
• To coordinate and assure national epidemiological surveillance;
• To prepare and publish health statistics;
• To support the activities of the National Public Health Officer;
• To coordinate the Public Health Emergencies System;
• To monitor the National Health Service Contact Centre;
• To prepare and assure the execution of the National Health Plan;
• To coordinate the European and international relations of the Ministry of Health;
• To regulate and monitor the compliance with safety and quality standards of blood, tissues and organs.

DGS is focused on citizens’ interests, in cooperation with other public bodies, particularly those accountable to the Ministry of Health.