Health Development Plan 2.0: Portugal Health Strategy 2030/35: Innovation, Knowledge and Competitiveness

The Health Development Plan 2.0 – Innovation, Knowledge and Competitiveness (PDS 2.0) sets out a vision for a knowledge-driven health ecosystem, powered by innovation and able to compete globally, with a horizon towards 2035. It addresses structural challenges such as the fragmentation of information systems, the lack of coordination across health, science, and economic policies, and the complexity of regulatory and certification processes. It therefore proposes an integrated approach that fosters digital transformation, modernises healthcare delivery, and enhances the valorisation of scientific knowledge, creating better conditions for the development and adoption of innovative solutions.

To deliver on this ambition, the plan outlines five strategic axes:

1. Data and digital transformationThe integration of health data is one of the core priorities of PDS 2.0. The plan advocates for strengthening interoperability between public and private systems, paving the way to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence, personalised medicine, and value-based management models. To achieve this transformation, it proposes the creation of a National Digital Health Agency—with joint participation from both the public and private sectors—responsible for coordinating data governance, defining interoperability standards, and establishing conditions for secondary data use in research, innovation, and health policy-making.
   
2. Innovative medicines and digital technologiesPDS 2.0 identifies an investment potential that could reach up to 2 billion euros in innovative medicines and digital technologies. The goal is to boost investment by national pharmaceutical companies and attract leading multinationals, enhancing Portugal’s capacity to develop and host pharmaceutical innovation projects. The plan also proposes establishing a national framework for the prescription and reimbursement of digital health solutions, setting clear conditions for formal prescribing and public coverage, and facilitating their integration into healthcare pathways.
   
3. Resilience and value in the Health SystemIn light of an ageing population, rising chronic conditions, and disparities in access to care, PDS 2.0 proposes shifting towards more preventive and decentralised care models. Key measures include strengthening primary and community care, systematically introducing social prescribing, and integrating community pharmacies as front-line access points to healthcare services. The strategy also outlines a transition towards value-based healthcare funding models that tie clinical outcomes to the full cycle-of-care costs for each condition, driving a more efficient allocation of resources.
   
4. Knowledge valorisationAnother key priority is the need to transform applied scientific and clinical knowledge into economic and social value, positioning Portugal as a competitive hub for developing health products, services, and solutions, as well as for conducting clinical trials and high-impact international biomedical research.
   
5. Market AccessThe plan identifies the need to modernise regulatory and market access pathways, strengthening the role of regulators as strategic partners in innovation, fostering the internationalisation of the Portuguese health sector, and accelerating the rollout of new solutions through mechanisms such as regulatory sandboxes and streamlined certification processes, thereby bolstering the competitiveness of the national ecosystem.

Access the Health Development Plan 2.0 here:

• Executive Version