Classification of Pharmaceutical Policy Measures During the Portuguese Financial Crisis.

Background: A rise in pharmaceutical expenses in Portugal led to the introduction of policy measures aimed at controlling outpatient public costs. This research examines and categorizes the most common pharmaceutical measures implemented during the Troika intervention, as well as comparing this period of time to prior ones.

Methods: A hierarchical structure of descriptors was built to classify and group measures over a 20-year period, including whether they might be deemed austerity measures.

Development of medicines consumption in Portugal before and during the financial crisis.

Background: In May 2011, the Portuguese Government signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, including detailed measures to control health costs, allowing Portugal to receive a financial rescue package. This study aims to investigate medicines utilization in the outpatient sector during Troika's financial rescue.

Methods: Using Defined Daily Dose per million inhabitants per year as a measurement unit, we compared medicines utilization with other relevant indicators over 5-year intervals for a total period of 20 years, based on a built-in inventory of national outpatient drug use using the Intercontinental Medical Statistics Health and Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical index of the World Health Organization databases.