A health system assessment approach to analysis of political parties' health proposals, Portugal.

Problem: Comparing health policy measures before elections and identifying potential gaps in the health policy debate can be challenging.

Approach: We explored the use of the Health System Performance Assessment for Universal Health Coverage framework to analyse health policy proposals by classifying health policy measures outlined in political manifestos into four health system functions: governance, financing, resource generation and service delivery. As a case study, we analysed the political manifestos of all Portuguese parties with parliamentary representation ahead of the election in March 2024.

Income inequalities beyond access to mental health care: a Dutch nationwide record-linkage cohort study of baseline disease severity, treatment intensity, and mental health outcomes.

Background: Existing literature shows low and unequal access to mental health treatment globally, resulting in policy efforts to promote access for vulnerable groups. Yet, there is little evidence about how inequalities develop once individuals start treatment. The greater use of mental health care among individuals with low income, such as in the Dutch system, might be driven by differences in need and might not necessarily lead to better treatment outcomes.

Trade-offs during the COVID-19 pandemic: A discrete choice experiment about policy preferences in Portugal.

The need to control the sanitary situation during the COVID-19 pandemic has led governments to implement several restrictions with substantial social and economic impacts. We explored people's trade-offs in terms of their income, life restrictions, education, and poverty in the society, compared to their willingness to avoid deaths. We applied a web-based discrete choice experiment to elicit preferences of the Portuguese citizens for these attributes and computed the marginal rate of substitution in terms of avoided deaths.

The effects of supported housing for individuals with mental disorders.

Societies face the challenge of providing appropriate arrangements for individuals who need living support due to their mental disorders. We estimate the effects of eligibility to the Dutch supported housing program (Beschermd Wonen), which offers a structured living environment in the community as an intermediate alternative to independent housing and inpatient care. For this, we use exogenous variation in eligibility based on conditionally random assignment of applications to assessors, and the universe of applications to supported housing in the Netherlands, linked to rich administrative data.

Patient cost-sharing, mental health care and inequalities: A population-based natural experiment at the transition to adulthood.

Background: Patient cost-sharing has been increasing around the world, despite the evidence that it reduces both unnecessary and necessary health care utilisation. Financial barriers could compound to poor transitional care into adulthood, when forgoing mental health treatment may have long-term consequences on health and development. We evaluate the impact of increasing deductibles on mental health care use by young adults, and the heterogeneous effects for vulnerable groups.

Concerns and adjustments: How the Portuguese population met COVID-19.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to disruptive changes worldwide, with different implications across countries. The evolution of citizens' concerns and behaviours over time is a central piece to support public policies.

Objective: To unveil perceptions and behaviours of the Portuguese population regarding social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for more informed public policies.

Cost Effectiveness of Pembrolizumab for Advanced Melanoma Treatment in Portugal.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab in treating patients with ipilimumab-naïve advanced melanoma in Portugal.

Methods: A cost-effectiveness model was developed to analyze the costs and consequences of treatment with pembrolizumab compared to treatment with ipilimumab in patients with advanced melanoma not previously treated with ipilimumab. The model was parameterized by using data from a head-to-head phase III randomized clinical trial, KEYNOTE-006.