[The Medico-Social Cardiology Center of Coimbra. History and epilogue]

The Medico-Social Cardiology Center of Coimbra, designed and founded by João Porto in 1941, played a remarkable (and pioneering) role in helping cardiac patients in the central part of Portugal. Its work was made possible by the commitment of many doctors, nurses and Social Center Bulletins. For a quarter of a century the number of medical and social interventions in favor of cardiac patients is truly remarkable. Meanwhile, improvements in the national social services--easier access to medical services, free semiology exams, subsidized drugs, state illness subsidies--caused a reduction of monetary contributions from both partners and wealthier and healthier cardiac patients. Little by little the Center's activity was reduced, which ultimately led to its recent dissolution. The Center's books were placed in the Archive of the University and its assets (bank deposits) were donated to the Association for the Development of Cardiology at the University Hospital in Coimbra. As its name suggests, the main goal of this non-profit association consists in the promotion of scientific and technological improvement of the Cardiology Department at the University Hospital of Coimbra.