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6. Principal health reforms
Chapter summary
•
The Economic and Financial Adjustment Programme set a number of
measures to be implemented in the health sector in Portugal aimed
at increasing cost-containment, improving efficiency, and increasing
regulation.
•
Reforms implemented since 2011 by the Ministry of Health are outlined
in five dimensions: regulation and governance; health promotion;
pharmaceutical market; long-term and palliative care; and primary
and hospital care.
•
Measures have particularly focused on the pharmaceutical market,
given the high level of public pharmaceutical expenditure in Portugal.
•
Recently implemented measures were in line with reforms enacted
in previous years, such as in primary health care, hospital care and
long-term care.
•
Main concerns in the period 2011–2015 were: to reduce prices in the
NHS through salary decrease, pharmaceutical prices and contracting
with private providers. Future challenges include the balance between
financial sustainability with NHS improvements in underserved fields
such as dental care, mental health and palliative care, human resources
planning and payment, hospital management and the pursuing of primary
care reform.
•
Recent reforms have focused on reprioritizing the primary care reform
as well as increasing patient choice and information for the Portuguese
population.
6. Principal health reforms