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Health systems in transition
Portugal
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The following central services are under the government’s indirect
administration, including public institutes or other bodies:
•
Central Administration of the Health System (
Administração Central
do Sistema de Saúde
, ACSS)
, which is in charge of managing financial
and human resources, facilities and equipment, systems and information
technology (IT) of the NHS. It is also responsible for the implementation
of health policies, regulation and planning, along with the RHAs, namely
in health service contracting.
•
The National Authority on Drugs and Health Products (
Autoridade
Nacional do Medicamento e Produtos de Saúde
, INFARMED)
, which
regulates and supervises the pharmaceuticals and health products
sector, following the highest standards of public health protection
(see section 5.6). It aims to ensure that all health care professionals and
patients have access to safe, efficient and quality pharmaceuticals and
other health products.
•
The National Institute for Medical Emergencies (
Instituto Nacional
de Emergência Médica
, INEM)
, which delineates, participates in and
assesses the activities and performance of the Integrated System of
Medical Emergency, guaranteeing immediate assistance to injured or
severely ill patients (see section 5.5).
•
The Portuguese Institute for Blood and Transplantation (
Instituto
Português do Sangue e da Transplantação
)
, which guarantees quality
and safety regarding donation, analysis, processing, storing and
distribution of human blood and blood components, as well as human
organs, tissues and cells. Additionally, the Institute for Blood and
Transplantation regulates, at a national level, the pharmaceuticals related
to transfusions and guarantees that there is a stock of secure blood and
blood components available when needed.
•
Institute for Protection and Assistance in Illness (
Instituto de
Protecção e Assistência na Doença
, ADSE)
, which guarantees the
effective access to social protection regarding health care services to
Public Administration workers and their families (see section 2.1.6).
This is the health subsystem for civil servants and it is under the indirect
administration of both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance.
•
National Institute of Health, Dr Ricardo Jorge (
Instituto Nacional de
Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge
, INSA)
, which is the reference laboratory
of the Portuguese health system, incorporating the functions of national
observatory and national reference laboratory in the Portuguese health