In Portugal, mortality amenable to health care interventions has been reduced - by 40% between 2000 and 2014 - and is now below the EU average. However, the rate is higher than in neighbouring countries such as Spain and France. Ischaemic heart diseases accounted for 23% of amenable deaths in 2014. Other important causes of amenable deaths were cerebrovascular diseases (20% of the total) and cancer of the colon and rectum (15% of the total). Timeliness of treatment is greatly aided by effective screening: for breast cancer the screening rate for Portuguese women aged 50-69 is over 80%. There are no permanent inter-sectoral structures or bodies, and decisions in areas such as urban planning or transport are not carried out in partnership with the health sector.