en 
The official, who participated in a roundtable as part of
the Quality Week promoted by the Local Health Unit of the Alentejo Coast
(ULSLA), stated that “50% of people in Portugal have low health literacy,
despite improving”.
Cristina Vaz de Almeida revealed that these indicators “do not
surprise” her, since also at a European level “50% of the population has low
levels of health literacy”.
“We are not far from Europe, we are on the same average” she
said, stressing that the Netherlands is the only country “where there is an
inversion”.
In this country, “as you get older, literacy goes up, unlike
in most of Europe where the older population lose their skills and abilities,”
she said.
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No surprise "50% of the Portuguese show low health literacy levels"! Unfortunately, it's not just in the health area but also in other important areas such as politics, history, science, technology and knowledge in general! Otherwise, how can one explain the low quality of the politicians, the Portuguese continue to elect, who are leading them to increasing irrelevance and eventually, I dare to say, oblivion in the European and World contexts! Unfortunately, it appears that the Portuguese are a species well in their way of being extinct! Just look at the population levels and who increasingly owns the country, its wealth and its huge resources? Unfortunately, not the Portuguese people! Portugal is becoming more and more a resort for the wealthy where most Portuguese are just mere servants!
By Tony Fernandes from Other on 13 Nov 2022, 13:45
It's sad but not surprising. As an Americam immigrant living in the Silver Coast area, we've heard from native Portuguese friends that the conditions of the facilities and the attitudes a medical facilities attitudes about patients tend to be very non- sympathetic. And if you ask questions about your conditions there seems to be a "holier than though" attitude.
Asking questions and trying to delve into the whats, why, causation, and alternative treatments or options is viewed as incorrect or not worthy of discussion. An informed patient, even if your patient is not very familiar with medical terminology, is better that one who has no understanding of the causes, effects, and options.
And many of the doctors seem to find questioning an intrusion of their time.
Particularly since Covid, both private and public hospital staff are stretched so thin and generally underpaid. Over my decades of my own healthcare matters in the USA, I had some superlative physicians. But at times the nurses not very understanding of a treatment's side effects. In fact I did my best to inform them of post treatment non-medical things to help relieve some common painful side effects. Perhaps historically the native Portuguese are used to and simply accept, some perhaps were not able to attain higher education - either way - any medical professional who considers a patient asking questions should NOT be considered negatively for trying to learn and truly understand their medical issues - even to explaining what the medical terminology means. A more informed patient usually results in more understanding and ultimately perhaps, better treatment.
By Lisa from Other on 14 Nov 2022, 05:54
Antidepressants have risen in Portugal in the last 20 years by 304 percent !
Doping the whole country will lower every literacy. What are we doing?
Is this a political agenda?
By Joe from Alentejo on 15 Nov 2022, 08:11