The Challenge of Public Participation in European Hospitals: A Portuguese Case Study.

Introduction: This article presents the results of an empirical study designed to examine the current state of public participation in hospital institutions of Portugal's National Health Service (NHS) and to assess the level of implementation and functioning of Advisory Councils. Methods: The study combines a review of the literature on participation experiences in hospitals across several European countries with a questionnaire administered to the presidents of hospital institutions within the Portuguese NHS. Together, these methods provide a basis for identifying the status of public participation in Portugal in light of relevant European experiences. Results: The findings indicate that participation is largely confined to communication and the provision of information to users, as well as consultation processes through which patients can express their preferences. However, the active involvement of patients and their representatives in healthcare decision-making remains limited and underdeveloped. Conclusion: Hospitals across Europe, and particularly in Portugal, face the challenge of fostering more effective forms of user participation. This requires moving beyond consultation towards meaningful involvement of patients and their representatives in healthcare decision-making processes.