Healthcare access and innovation in Portugal

Medical professionals and regional leaders in Portugal are focusing on the integration of care and the role of technological innovation. At a congress for the Santo António Hospital emergency service, discussions emphasized reducing regional inequalities to ensure medical access is not determined by residence. Participants also identified digital transformation and the responsible use of artificial intelligence as essential tools for clinical decision-making. In the field of urology, medical symposia have advocated for a shift toward patient-centered care, prioritizing individual patient needs over specific surgical techniques like robotic or laparoscopic methods.

Subsequent research coordinated by the Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at Universidade NOVA de Lisboa has identified significant gaps in care access. A study by the Ordem dos Médicos categorized the population into three profiles: “Vulnerable,” “Episodic,” and “Integrated.” The “Vulnerable” group, representing 48% of respondents, faces a higher disease burden and greater difficulty maintaining continuous medical follow-up despite having the highest need for services.

Recent findings from the Portuguese Association of Hospital Administrators (APAH) indicate that the integration of primary and hospital healthcare services has stagnated. Following a 2024 reform that established 31 new Local Health Units (ULS) to merge health centers and hospitals, professionals rated global integration at 3.29 on a 5-point scale, unchanged from the previous year. APAH president Xavier Barreto expressed concern regarding this lack of improvement. The study, conducted by EY Portugal as the third edition of the Care Integration Barometer (BIC), surveyed 2,676 health professionals across 39 ULS. Data suggests that ULS established before 2024 reported a higher integration perception score of 3.42, suggesting that newer units may require more time to realize the transition. To address data fragmentation, the Lisbon-based startup Octo Health has launched a proactive health platform in Portugal and the United States.