Ethical aspects of innovation in health in Portugal

Abstract

Effective management of resources is a current concern of health institutions in Portugal, requiring rationalization and prioritization according to ethical principles to ensure fairness. Access to innovation has proved fundamental in promoting health care and consequently improving quality of life, albeit with associated costs. Given the rapid development of science and the growing prevalence of innovation in the form of technology and treatments, a clear, conscious and reasoned discussion about the adoption and establishment of priorities with regard to innovation in health is imperative. Centered on a definition of innovation in health, the study of priorities, the perception of the same and their political aspects, the present article proposes a critical reflection in the light of ethical aspects that evidence the main questions related to the introduction of innovation in health in Portugal.