Formally emerging in the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997), the concept aims to moderate the effects associated with the (tendency to) liberalization of Services of General Interest. More than a decade later, the Lisbon Treaty (2010) positioned territorial cohesion as a new paradigm for the development of European space. Its objective is to promote a balanced development of Europe by valuing territorial diversity and complementarity amongst different territorial contexts. This definition combines the idea of cohesion with the importance of the territorial dimension in decision-making processes.
Published in Chapter:
Using Digital Tools to Improve Policy Making and Citizens' Decisions in Healthcare
Jéssica Tavares (GOVCOPP, University of Aveiro, Portugal), Gonçalo Santinha (GOVCOPP, University of Aveiro, Portugal), Luís Jorge Gonçalves (University of Aveiro, Portugal), and Teresa Forte (University of Aveiro, Portugal)
Copyright: © 2021
|Pages: 15
DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-6701-2.ch006
Abstract
Several studies report an overall critical judgement to the Portuguese health system by national citizens, who focus not only on the increased costs associated with healthcare, waiting lists for appointments, and waiting times for emergency services, but also on the lack of appropriate tools and means that can help them to make more informed decisions concerning healthcare. This chapter aims to explore and test the potential development of a digital tool capable of offering accurate, updated, and extended information on care providers and services as well as access to care facilities. Overall, this application is perceived as useful in conveying a wider knowledge of healthcare options that may not only foster more informed and rational choices, but also help policymakers to understand the main factors underlying citizens' choices of healthcare providers.