Health technology assessment in Portugal

Citation
Mm. Pinto et al., Health technology assessment in Portugal, INT J TE A, 16(2), 2000, pp. 520-531
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Health Care Sciences & Services
Journal title
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT IN HEALTH CARE
ISSN journal
02664623 → ACNP
Volume
16
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
520 - 531
Database
ISI
SICI code
0266-4623(200021)16:2<520:HTAIP>2.0.ZU;2-3
Abstract
The Portuguese healthcare system is often portrayed as a National Health Se rvice (NHS) model, characterized by universal coverage, comprehensive benef its, nearly free services, national tax financing, and public ownership or control of the factors of production. However, in reality the system fails to accomplish these features in a complete way. There coexist a number of o ccupation-related health insurance schemes that were originally intended to be integrated into the NHS. in addition, in key areas the NHS does not pro vide the wide range of services it promises. The public sector has a predom inant role in the provision of hospital stays and general practitioner cons ultations, but the private sector provides a major portion of specialist co nsultations, dental consultations, and diagnostic services. Major problems in the system led to health reforms in the 1990s. New reform proposals incl ude some specific steps concerning health technology, including standards f or medical equipment based on quality, geographic distribution, sustainabil ity, and cost-effectiveness. A new National Plan of Health Equipment was co mpleted in 1998, aimed at improving the distribution of equipment Despite r eforms, healthcare expenditures continue to rise. There is general agreemen t that gains in efficiency could be made. This situation is beginning to en courage interest in health technology assessment (HTA) in Portugal, althoug h these activities are not yet very developed. Recently, legislation requir ing presentation of economic evaluations for new pharmaceutical products wa s enacted. Present plans also call for the creation in the future of a nati onal agency for HTA.