[Health system in the Health Region of Lisbon and Tagus Valley: beyond health centers and hospitals].

INTRODUCTION

This article describes the economic health complex in the Health Region of Lisbon and the Tagus River.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Databases for 2007, for enterprises, establishments and human resources, were made available by the Office of Strategy and Planning of the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity for the Health Region of Lisbon and the Tagus River. Also for the Health Region of Lisbon and the Tagus River, public sector hospital and health centre data was made available by the National, Statistics Office. The data were analyzed, with georeferentiation when relevant.

RESULTS

The results allow a first glimpse of the economic health complex of the largest health region of Portugal. This economic complex includes 7180 enterprises and 8504 establishments with a staff establishment of 127 430.

CONCLUSION

There are four large areas of health related economic activities: healthcare provision (mostly in the public sector), social support, commercialization of medicines and health products and other activities. The three last categories are mostly in the private sector.